Another example of how Toronto is scared to grow up. I value heritage, but heritage value is subjective and applied arbitrarily in the City. Developers build condo's because there is a demand for condo's - in the form of rental units. For as long as there is a demand for people to live downtown, and until purpose built rental takes over, condo's NEED to be built. Yorkville is as good a place for another 'generic glass box condo' as any being at the confluence of 3 subway lines with 24/7 streetlife.
This proposal meets many long term city objectives including densification and generating tax revenue. It will help to save a mall which desperately needs a front entrance. (Before you jump on me for suggesting a mall needs to be saved - malls are neighbourhood amenities and the alternative to a successful mall is not a scenario we should hope for with crumbling infrastructure and empty dark spaces) The heritage here in my opinion does not nearly justify the death of this project, which is the outcome of the designation without a doubt. It may have been a unique idea, but it was poorly executed and doesn't fit the modern requirements of retail/office or residential which surprisingly a lot of heritage still does like the converted warehouse space.
And for those that lament the disappearing 'context' of Yorkville with it's unaccessible, split level with stairs schlocky architecture I say good riddance.
End of rant.