Is this whole post meant to be sarcastic? This comparison can't be serious. You have a streetscape of an old urban market street overflowing with diversity versus a recently-built suburban strip mall that's not even built along an actual street. Take out the wires in Kensington Market and get some artists to design some interesting street lighting, and Kensington Market would be the same funky and vibrant place and even more interesting. One's focus would be more on the buildings, businesses and street life.
Cleaning these things up isn't going to remove character; it's going to bring the focus to what actually matters on urban streets: people, street life, businesses, patios, architecture, art, greenery, and urban design. It would only enhance the market because the wires distract and obscure things. In the photo of Kensington Market posted above, it would be better to see all the storefronts and diverse built form on the right hand side as opposed to the mess of wires. It would be even better to highlight the significance of the market and the love that people have for it with unusual and attractive street lights.
It's no surprise that one major corridor that's free of wires is also among the most diverse and vibrant: Bloor and Danforth. Bloor Street in the Annex is one of the most sublime walks in the city. The street is packed with people, the concentration of diverse businesses is huge, you may see street musicians, restored buildings, and everything interesting in urban streetscapes. Without the wires, people are encouraged to look for these things. Koreatown is different and unique in character but still lively, interesting and rather modern and sleek without wires. Cleaning these things up puts the focus on the real aspects of a neighbourhood's identity, rather than erasing them.
