Toronto's Times Square Ripoff

How did it happen that the municipal government in Toronto decided to build a lesser Times Square? No one asked me if I thought it was a good idea. And, I'll tell you what, I don't think it is a good idea.

Isn't it bad enough that we are bombarded with advertisements almost everywhere we go. Why do we need giant LCD screens and media towers confronting us at Yonge & Dundas? I do realize that there have always been advertisements there, but why does the city think that we should allow what looks to be a pornographic orgy of ads in this area?

Anyway, the long-anticipated Metropolis Centre is finally under construction (on the north east corner of Yonge & Dundas), but I have noticed that not much is happening on the site recently. Future Shop and Virgin Superstore have leased space. (Let me just add that there is nothing super about any Virgin Superstore I have ever visited. The name is hyperbolic).

Pen Equity has loaded an interesting document (in pdf) that describes the project. I have to object strongly to this statement: "Comparable to New York's Times Square or London's Piccadilly Circus, Dundas Square IS the 24-hour public face of Toronto." Is this a joke?

Technorati tags: Toronto, Metropolis Centre, Yonge Street, Virgin Superstore