Bella's Belles Townhomes with Real Basements (Updated June 6, 2010)

New version uploaded June 6, 2010. Fixes problems where objects in basement could be difficult to grab. Now requires no CC at all.

Description of Lot

This is Maxis' "Bella's Belles Townhomes" lot from Apartment Life with one change: I have added a real no-slope basement to each of the 4 townhouses on the lot.

Bella's Belles Basement Townhomes are a set of 4 small but charming and colourful townhouses, for single sims or small families without children. Each apartment features a main level with a foyer, living room, kitchen, dining area, and convenient powder room. Upstairs, you'll find a bedroom and full bath; you can choose between a large double bedroom or a smaller single bedroom with an additional bonus room which can be used as an office or second bedroom.

The living room has seating for 2 or 3 with a bookshelf and TV or easel for skilling and entertainment. The kitchen is complete, with a fridge and stove plus counter space. The dining area, off of the kitchen, has seating for 2 or 3. Each apartment is also equipped with a desk and computer.

Most townhomes have hardwood floors throughout, with some tile and carpeting. A small grassy area between each apartment ensures that your neighbors won't be banging on your wall in the middle of the night, or keeping you awake with their partying. There's also a common area with a grill, tables, and chairs, where you can socialize in the sun.

The basements are large but unfurnished, perfect for those late night jam sessions, or for that dance studio that you've been dreaming about. If you talk with the landlord before you move in, s/he might even let you finish the basement to meet your special requirements, partitioning off rooms to meet your needs and even adding some windows to let in the light.

While these are not luxury apartments, they have everything that you need to be comfortable and happy. They are surprisingly spacious for such a small footprint and we're sure that you'll enjoy having that extra space downstairs. This is one of the first lots in the neighborhood to have a real no-slope basement, so grab it quickly before it's gone.

Rental Prices: 2603 - 2698

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Technical Discussion:

Now that we have a fairly simple method for creating no-slope basements, I am working on a way to add a real basement to an existing lot. I would appreciate help in determining whether these techniques have any problems.

Until now, it hasn't been possible to add a new level to a lot, except at the very top. If you wanted to add a foundation or basement to an existing building, you had to rebuild the entire lot from scratch.

This lot is a test of a program which will allow you to wedge a new level under or between existing levels on the lot. It seemed to be a particularly good test lot, since it had four narrow buildings at four different heights, spaced closely together.

As far as I can tell, this is also the first lot upload using the new simplified technique for creating no-slope basements. Sloped basements on this lot would be unusable, since they would only be 3 tiles wide. By removing the slope, these basements become usable space. So, this lot is also a test of the simplified no-slope method.

I have included both an Apartment version and a Residential version. If you want to partition the basement into separate rooms, or add windows to the basements, or make other adjustments before playing, I would suggest that you install the Residential version and make your changes, then convert to an apartment using the cheat:
changeLotZoning apartmentbase

Please do not report any issues which exist in the original Bella's Belles lot. I am only interested in problems with the techniques for creating no-slope basements and for adding new levels to an existing lot.

Original No-Slope Basement Tutorial:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=326029

Simplified No-Slope Basement Tutorial:
http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?p=3180894
Post # 62 in the TS2GridAdjuster download thread.

For more information about adding a level to an existing lot, see this thread under the Moo Tools social group. You can read the thread without joining the group, but if you want to comment, you'll have to join:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=328166


Lot Size: 3x2
Lot Price: 170,527

Additional Credits:
V1ND1CARE for discovering how to make no-slope basements.

simfreakforever for creating the original no-slope basement tutorial.

Numenor for his wonderful AnyGameStarter, which allowed this lot to be modified using only Apartment Life.

Maxis, for this cute townhouse apartment.

The lastest version of the GridAdjuster, which allowed me to easily create the functional no-slope basements with no requirement for custom content:
http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=327439