dreambrother, I have an idea (eureka!)
The Toronto developments suck (as you and I both know), so you need to tell the city & developers how you feel. I mean really let them know how you feel. And if they don't start making a noticable improvenment in their proposed projects. You need to go back and tell them again and again, exactly what their doing wrong. If that doesn't work, then tell them that Toronto really needs to catch-up with the groundbreaking designs in Chicago & NYC, then maybe they will do something about it, and you will see some up to date designs.
If all your campaigning doesn't bring any results, as a last resort measure, I think you should go to Chicago and NYC and steal their proposals/developments and bring them to Toronto.
And in the end you will be happy, and trust me so will I.