Towered is the first person to note what I think is the biggest problem here: Parking. Even with three-story garages, parking could be minimized thereby freeing up that land to be used in wiser ways. Parks? Playing fields? Nurseries? Small ponds? Playgrounds? A small pitch and putt golf course? A recreation center (perhaps by MJM?)? The possibilities are endless and what better place to introduce this sort of mixed use complex/pseudo-urban nature preserve than Toronto, a city which prides itself on its extensive and often intertwining ravine and parks systems.
Instead, we've wisely enlisted a large, successful American firm to 'think really hard' and come up with the same tired scheme they've peddled to several other cities south of the border. I'm not anti-American by any stretch, but I do like to at least delude myself into believing that we Canucks use our cars a little bit less than they do.
Whether that is true is not the case, but in this time of need, economic and otherwise, why not cut the parking down, put what parking is needed in small, well-designed structures and establish express bus routes between the complex and nearby transit hubs (i.e. Subway stations, GO Stations, VIVA Stations, etc.)?
This can be done and it can be done well, especially if the city is chipping in. Let's give the Americans a swift but respectful heave-ho and go for something different, something progressive. If press and hype are what this place is all about then why not skip the local angle and shoot for global status - the first progressive, sustainable, 'urban' mall?
Oh, and Brecker's Song for Bilbao is incredible, just incredible...