Totes bummer. I wonder if they've struck a deal to complete the whole facade. Otherwise, it'll look awfully weird.
Re property shape
I'm not sure there's enough space at the n-w corner of York and James to develop. As you've stated, it's a weird shape.
Again, the awkward shape of this intersection is thanks to the city plowing York through to link up with Wilson. In the past, both streets dead-ended at James.