I've noticed with my own friends, those who buy condos intending to live in them, care very much what the building looks like on the outside. The ones who buy condos strictly for investments, usually don't give a damn what the condo looks like on the outside. I figure this developer and this condo probably have a very high percentage of investment buyers. These people figure they can make money off this thing but they don't have to look at it when they're relaxing in their suburban mansions. (or back home in China)
I think the city needs to put a lot more restrictions on development, design, quality of materials, colour of materials and massing! Beautiful cities don't just happen by chance, they are created by regulation, not profit motive!