Yeah, viewing this from south on Yonge definitely gives some depth to the street and the skyline. Nice.
Definitely so. I prefer a tiered set of development surrounding Yonge Street rather than skyscrapers right up against Yonge like some people suggest.
1.) It reduces claustophobia. Skyscrapers right on Yonge Street would make for a dim urban canyon, considering that Yonge Street is even narrower than Bay.
2.) It makes the city look larger from Yonge Street, as people are able to see more skyscrapers, rather than just the skyscrapers lining the street (like on Bay Street as of now).
In a metaphorical sense, I see it like this:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=junea...=-HMnLj80BpnEobsU8qA-8g&cbp=12,109.7,,0,-15.5
Essentially, you get a foreground (Yonge Street storefronts), and a background (the skyscrapers behind the storefronts), much like here where you have the foreground (storefronts) and backgrounds (mountains). Ideally, you would get the sense that you are at the base of a large amphitheater.
3.) It allows buildings to be appreciated better. Rather than craning your head up to stare at buildings (basically what you do at Trump tower), skyscrapers will be part of your normal field of vision.
4.) It keeps the existing storefronts, which offer a great opportunity to be refurbished. These are urban forms that have worked for the most part around the city, and only need some cleaning up to attract a better clientele/occupants. Obviously some buildings should be replaced with taller ones, but development on Yonge Street should aim to fix the things worth saving and develop empty/underutilized areas.
