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.