Saving the planet is just one part of The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle expansion pack. Turning Evergreen Harbor into a clean and fresh paradise may be the main draw of the pack, but there are plenty of other exciting add-ons.
The new community lots, or community spaces are a brand new lot type that allows for a more -knit community of Sims, who can use the space for all sorts of purposes. You can even make decisions together that affect the entire world. Community lots are perfect for players who want a more connected world to enjoy, and to get active in the community.
What Are Community Lots
Community lots as introduced in the Eco Lifestyle expansion, are multi-use spaces where Sims that live in the area can gather to strengthen their community, with activities like gardening, making, and voting. While they are already set up in Evergreen Harbor, you can place them in any world you'd like.
The community space can be used for a variety of purposes, but the main three already found in Evergreen Harbor are:
- Community Garden
- Marketplace
- Maker Space
Each of these has their own functions that allows locals to better their neighborhoods and grow r, making the community an overall better place to live.
One object that is on all community spaces is Community Boards, where Sims can place their vote for what they want the community space to be, and other ballots such as Neighborhood Action Plans. No matter what type of community space your neighborhood votes for, the Community Board will remain on the lot.
Voting for the type of community lot occurs from 8am on Friday and s at 6pm on Monday at the Community Board. You can’t change this time. So, if the community space you want loses, you’ll need to wait until the next voting period.
Community Garden
Community Gardens are exactly as they sound, a space for any Sim to grow and cultivate plants like flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Other Sims can water and tend to your plants as well, so everyone can increase their gardening skills.
There are no limits on what plants your Sim can grow here, so as long as you have seeds or blooms, you can simply plant them in any open spot and begin to take care of them the same as you would at your home lot.
Marketplace
The Marketplace is where your Sim and others can sell their homemade goods, such as juices, candles, or any other object they’ve made. Your Sim can set up a stall of their own or buy from other sellers. This is an easy place to make Simoleons if your Sim wants to run their own business.
Maker Space
A Maker Space is a spot for Sims to gather and make new objects together. This includes activities like recycling goods or crafting new items, such as painting, candle-making, fabricating, and plenty more.
There are no limits on what objects are able to be made in Maker Spaces, so as long as you have the proper objects such as easels or fabricators, Sims can gather to make them in this space.
How To Make A Community Space
While they are originally found in Evergreen Harbor, you can create a community lot in any available world in The Sims 4. Simply click on any lot you’d like to turn into a community space in the Manage Worlds screen and choose Build.
On the top left of the screen, you can click to change the lot type from the drop-down menu. Choose Community Space, and then you can click which type of space you’d like to have active from the standard empty space, a Community Garden, Marketplace, or Maker Space.
As mentioned above, every type of community lot needs a Community Board. You can find this object as the only one listed under Community Space Objects in Buy Mode and place it anywhere on the lot to meet this requirement.
Each type of community space needs certain objects to function successfully, same as other lot types in the game. You can view the list of what’s needed directly below the lot type. You can then click on each necessary object to be taken to it in the Buy Mode catalog, and then decorate the spaces around it.
The different community spaces also have optional objects that you don’t need to place on the lot for it to work but are recommended for better gameplay. This includes items like the Insect Farms or Vertical Gardens in a Community Garden.
Other than the required objects, you are free to decorate and build these community spaces any way you’d like. This lets you match the aesthetic of each community, so the space fits in with the rest of the architecture and design or allows you to go wild and build whatever you want.
Community lots are great places to bring a bit of realism to the game. Your Sims can build new skills here, meet other Sims, make some money selling their items, and vote on important community matters. They bring a neighborhood together and make the community feel more alive.
