Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said it was great to be able to look up and see the blue sky on a day like yesterday.
She said she was looking forward to the concept designs being on display in the area so people could get a real feel of what would be happening next.
"It was about seeing a clearer view shaft and I can already see how that will happen.
"I think it will be a really exciting space in the future."
Rotorua MP Todd McClay said while he hadn't yet seen the City Focus minus the sails, he had seen photographs.
Mr McClay said there was evidence of growth and development in Rotorua's economy and a growing sense of vibrancy. Anything that added to that "needed to be seen in a positive light", he said.
"It is important they find ways to link the city."
Mr McClay said the City Focus wasn't something he had strong views on - and wasn't something which had been raised with him as an issue.
Salon St Bruno owner Hilda Dufty said she was surprised at how much of a difference the removal of the sails made.
"I can't believe how much lighter and brighter it is.
"It makes it a lot larger than I thought it was. It looks like a huge space."
Although not everyone was in favour.
The Clothing Clinic's Mel Akurangi, who previously said she did not believe the sails should be removed, said she hadn't changed her mind after seeing the result.
She was also disappointed the removal of the sails had happened before Christmas and there was further work planned over the busy December period.
Ms Akurangi said there needed to be a central point in town for tourists to go for information and without it they were "getting lost".
City Focus' new look
* Removal of concrete pillars, sails and the building
* A balance of hard paved, open lawn and garden areas
* Interactive, digital information kiosk
* Clearly defined vehicle routes - traffic flowing four ways
* Highly prioritised pedestrian routes
