I can see different people taking different things from him. The prose style takes a little bit to get into (or it did for me). It's almost like you need to become attuned to it. But I wouldn't dismiss it as artsy. And there is a grunge factor, but I wouldn't say it detracts. Actually, the book reminded me a little of your short story about the buildings' spirits, mostly because of the way that places become almost characters in the book.

I can't guarantee you'll like it, but I think we have similar tastes, and I wasn't put off by the things that normally put us both off ;>