Was I emphatic in my post? No.
In terms of being required to "keep certain elements of the base", this design does not have its rezoning approved yet. There are some heritage elements, including the old fire tower, and the facade of 480 Yonge at the south end of the site, that are heritage, and would be required to be kept in any redevelopment.
The word on the street is that the Planning Department does not like Quadrangle's design for the podium because it has angled walls that don't meet Yonge at right angles or parallel it. If that's true, it's a sign to me that department is part of the forces of mediocritization of the city, and that they feel comfortable overstepping their mandate.
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