[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by alps

I also think this building is quite good from an urban design perspective. I like the mix of two floors retail with residential above. Such a fine-grained mix of uses would keep the building active around the clock and it seems like having retail on the second floor would act as a buffer zone, precluding noise complaints from second-floor residential tenants.

I don't mind that the building is plain. Not every building can or should be an architectural icon. Tokyo is comprised mainly of these kinds of dense, mixed-use, plain-looking "boring" buildings but the city is still very pleasant and liveable due to its variety of ground-level uses, walkability, scale of the street, etc. I love seeing these dense, small-lot developments in Halifax because they remind me of Tokyo.

My only complaint might be that in the first photo Hali87 posted, the building seems to call out for nice exterior lighting that illuminates both the sidewalk and the building.

Great post. External lighting would be a nice addition.