Yes, it works. Great visualization on your part to see this shot, unusual to see such difference in contrast/sharpness and light bloom in the same photo and they balance this well. I second Tuna's burning in suggestion, certainly for part if not all the display area in the middle. It doesn't need a lot as the difference in contrast is part of what works so well.

The building needs to be complete on top or come to a different conclusion. The fine, dark sidewalk patterns at the bottom need some balance, I believe, at the top. I like the anchoring effect of the dark negative space in the upper left and lower right.