Spent the last few days thinking about this and we still can't figure out how on earth this project could ever look like The Drake Hotel East?
We did a little research! Wouldn't a more appropriate comparison be The Gladstone Hotel on Queen St West? We can see major comparisons there. In order to look like The Drake, there would be massive changes in design, which we find would be totally unnecessary and costly. They just need to renovate and revitalize this building to its former glory, not totally change it's appearance.
Just our thoughts. I know that's not popular given The Drake's popularity and Toronto's history of destroying its past. But it may just be a lot easier to accept this structure's beauty as it exists.