I quite like these little islands of old, funky buildings. This top half of this Pandora block works well just as it is, and these little business fit just perfectly.
I'm not looking for ultra new, super clean and hip-modern when i pop into Habit for a cup of coffee.
Tearing every old Victoria building down in order to replace it with a faux "old-town" construct will only result in the entire city looking like the Uptown Mall ... a facility that often creeps me out, as it reminds me of the ultra phony town of Seahaven in Jim Carrey's - "The Truman Show".
I like the existing building and vibe, too.
On the flip side, though, and from a philosophical standpoint: if a landowner wants to redevelop their property - they should be able to do so! There are some obvious exceptions, such as exceptional landmarks that should be protected for the greater good (i.e. a grand old church or a historically significant building). This certainly does not qualify.