I disagree that aesthetics of public spaces are a lesser issue compared with public transit or road quality. I don't want to live in a depressing and ugly city no matter how extensive the public transit system or how smooth the roads are. True, most of our streets leave a lot to be desired, but Toronto has always had some great public gestures to save itself. With not even our greatest square in shape, we might as well be heading towards total trashiness. Adopting some suburban mentality that as long as our private homes are nice and we can get around efficiently than that's all that matters doesn't make for a particularly pleasant city to spend time in.