HUGE update to post below

Commenter Daniel Nairn in post immediately below this one believes that the "insistent character" ignored by Gehry was none other than Fred Kent, who if you don't know is one of the most knowledgeable, astute etc etc people working to make cities more comfortable for walkers. He founded and still leads Project for Public Spaces.

Confirmed here: Twitter / PPS: Fred Kent (the fairly insi ....

It is absurd that Gehry would decline to engage him . Outrageous, in fact, and shows Gehry in an even very poorer light than before. Kent knows the dynamics of urban spaces as well as anyone around -- certainly has far more experience and prestige in the field of public spaces than does Gehry. 

The story gets sadder and makes Gehry look very bad.