25 BASEBALL PLACE CONDO | RIVERSIDE SQUARE CONDOS

The transit project that's been talked about for years is now visibly under construction just steps from Riverside Square — and it recently got a new name to go with the progress.

What's Actually Happening Right Now

The station formerly known as "Riverside-Leslieville" has officially been renamed Leslieville Station, part of a broader Ontario Line renaming announced alongside news that tunnelling had officially begun on the line. The station will sit above Queen Street East between Broadview and Carlaw — an easy walk from Riverside Square.

Construction has moved past early site preparation and utility relocation into deep foundation work. The station's supporting piers are under construction now, with the station's above-ground superstructure work expected to begin in late 2027. The province has not committed to a specific opening year, currently citing only a general "2030s" timeline for full Ontario Line completion.

Why This Station Specifically Matters for Riverside Square

Leslieville Station is projected to bring roughly 9,500-10,000 residents within a 10-minute walk once complete — a meaningful density and transit-access shift for the immediate South Riverdale area. For a multi-building community like Riverside Square, sitting well within that walk radius, this is exactly the kind of long-term transit investment that has historically supported property values in comparable Toronto neighbourhoods over time.

The station will also connect to existing streetcar routes, and current plans call for maintaining streetcar service throughout construction — meaning residents shouldn't expect to lose transit access during the build, even with some rerouting possible at points.

What This Means If You Own at Riverside Square

This is a long-term value driver, not a near-term one. With completion still years away and no confirmed opening date, don't expect this to move your unit's price in the next year or two. What it does support is the neighbourhood momentum we've already seen reflected in recent condo value data for South Riverdale — transit investment of this scale is exactly the kind of fundamental that supports gradual, sustained appreciation over a multi-year hold.

Construction impacts are real but temporary. Nearby residents should expect ongoing construction noise, some sidewalk and lane closures around Queen Street East, and truck traffic during active building phases — worth being upfront about with tenants or buyers touring the area during this period.

What This Means If You're Considering Buying

Buying ahead of a confirmed transit station completion is a genuinely reasonable long-term strategy — you're often able to buy before pricing fully reflects the eventual transit premium. The trade-off is patience: with the province's vague "2030s" completion window, this isn't a short-term catalyst play.

Why This Also Matters Beyond Riverside Square

This same Ontario Line corridor runs directly through the broader East End — meaning neighbourhoods like Leslieville and Riverdale are seeing the same construction activity and will benefit from the same long-term transit access once the line opens, making this a shared story across the wider East End real estate market, not just Riverside Square specifically.

The Bottom Line

Leslieville Station's construction is real, visible, and progressing — and its long-term implications for Riverside Square and the broader South Riverdale area are genuinely positive, even though the payoff is measured in years rather than months. For current owners, it's one more reason to think about this community as a long-term hold; for prospective buyers, it's a fundamental worth weighing alongside current pricing.

Want to know how this and other neighbourhood developments factor into current Riverside Square pricing? Reach out to our team for a current market conversation.

If you want to understand why South Riverdale has become the most strategic real estate investment in Toronto this year, you have to look beyond transit and office towers. While the upcoming Ontario Line and the East Harbour commercial hub dominate the headlines, a multi-billion-dollar transformation is actively opening up right in Riverside Square’s backyard this summer.

The Toronto Port Lands Revitalization—one of the largest waterfront infrastructure projects in North America—is finally crossing the finish line in 2026. The historic rerouting of the Don River has created a brand-new island neighborhood (Ookwemin Minising), surrounded by sprawling, world-class green spaces.

Here is why the 2026 opening of these waterfront mega-parks is the ultimate "lifestyle catalyst" for the East End, and why it is aggressively driving up the value of condos at Riverside Square.

1. Biidaasige Park: Toronto’s New Crown Jewel

For years, the industrial Port Lands cut the East End off from the lake. That era is over. The centerpiece of the waterfront revitalization is Biidaasige Park, a massive 50-acre river valley park that is actively expanding its footprint this summer.

This isn't just a patch of grass. The City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto are unveiling a world-class destination featuring:

• The Lassonde Art Trail: Opening this summer, this 4.2-kilometre waterfront promenade will feature 15 interconnected public art installations.

• Extensive Trail Networks: Miles of new cycling paths, boardwalks, and lookouts providing unprecedented views of the Toronto skyline and the Inner Harbour.

• New Water Taxi Docks: A brand-new dock is opening at the foot of Biidaasige Park in the summer of 2026, creating seamless water connectivity across the city.

2. South Riverdale’s Direct Connection

What does a waterfront park have to do with condos at Queen and Broadview? Unrivaled accessibility.

Because Riverside Square sits immediately adjacent to the Don River, residents essentially have a private green highway leading straight to the new island. You can step out of your lobby at 15 Baseball Place, hop on your bike, and ride the shaded Don Valley trails directly south into the heart of the Port Lands in minutes—completely avoiding city traffic.

The Port Lands project effectively turns Toronto’s newest, most spectacular waterfront park into Riverside Square’s extended backyard.

3. The "Green Premium" in Real Estate

In the dense, concrete landscape of downtown Toronto, immediate access to massive, curated green spaces is one of the rarest commodities.

Real estate data consistently shows that properties located within a short walk or bike ride to major, newly revitalized waterfront parks command a significant "Green Premium." For investors, this translates directly to tenant retention and higher rental yields. High-income professionals and young families are willing to pay top dollar to live in a modern building where they can easily escape to nature on the weekends without needing a car.

4. The 2026 Trifecta: Transit, Jobs, and Nature

To fully grasp the investment potential of Riverside Square in 2026, you have to look at the macro picture. No other neighborhood in Toronto is experiencing this specific combination of billion-dollar catalysts simultaneously:

1. The Transit Catalyst: The Ontario Line (Riverside-Leslieville Station) is under construction steps away.

2. The Economic Catalyst: The 130-acre East Harbour "Second Downtown" is rising just south of the neighborhood.

3. The Lifestyle Catalyst: The Port Lands and Biidaasige Park are opening up the waterfront.

If you wait for all three of these generational projects to be fully completed, the neighborhood will be priced entirely out of reach for the average buyer.

Capitalize on the East End Transformation

The smartest real estate play in Toronto right now is securing a move-in-ready unit in a neighborhood before its surrounding infrastructure is fully priced in. Whether you are looking for an industrial-style loft at 665 Queen Street E or a skyline-view suite at 45 Baseball Place, Riverside Square is perfectly positioned at the epicenter of this growth.

👉 Ready to explore the most exciting neighborhood in Toronto? Contact our team today at 647-259-8806 or info@remaxpluscity.com to book a private tour of our available suites.