Yes, it is ... a good thing, IMO, as I've always found that plaza awkward, pointless and poorly utilized. The park equivalent of a "taxpayer" building.
On a warm day, the food court seating spills out into this plaza. Some folks will miss it.
I will. It's not even too windy on cold days. If they built a vestibule for the food court doors and left them open in the winter I think people would use it more then too. Shmessy, have you ever actually used the courtyard? I have for years, and its a pretty decent space. The rest of the useless plazas should be redeveloped but this ones not too bad. It also hosts a decent farmers market in the summer, and as mentioned concerts. It's also one of the best places to view the pru.
an outdoor cafeteria for food court teens