If you live, own or are thinking of buying near Queen Street East and the rail corridor, the City has now set out the road, sidewalk and parking changes tied to construction of the Ontario Line's Leslieville Station. Here's what City Council adopted, in plain terms.
July 29-30 City Council adopted the item, 2026 | Aug 1, 2026 first road and sidewalk measures begin |
Aug 31, 2029 latest end date for the parking and stopping measures | 16 columns 8 at Queen/Strange, 8 at Queen/De Grassi, Sept 2026 to May 2027 |
What Was Decided
Toronto City Council adopted the item (TE34.106) with amendments on July 29 and 30, 2026, after Toronto and East York Community Council considered it on July 8 and 9. It covers temporary traffic and parking changes around Gerrard and Leslieville Stations. Read the City's agenda item.
Leslieville Station: Key Changes
| Where | What changes | When |
|---|---|---|
| Queen St E, north side (De Grassi to about 45 m east) | Sidewalk closed | Aug 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2028 (plus up to 25 days, Jun 1 to Aug 31, 2029) |
| Queen St E, westbound (same segment) | Curb lane closed | Aug 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2028 (plus up to 25 days in summer 2029) |
| Queen St E, eastbound (Strange to McGee) | Curb lane closed | Jul 1 to Nov 30, 2027 (plus up to 25 days in summer 2029) |
| Queen St E (De Grassi to McGee) | No stopping, both sides | Aug 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2029 |
| De Grassi St (Queen to about 85 m north) | 2.5 m of northbound lane and east sidewalk closed | Aug 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2029 |
| Strange St (Queen to about 80 m south) | East sidewalk closed | Aug 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2029 |
Parking Changes
- De Grassi St, east side: permit parking rescinded for the affected periods, with replacement overnight spaces required, Aug 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2029.
- Strange St, east side: permit parking rescinded and stopping prohibited from Dec 31, 2026 to Aug 31, 2029. On-street accessible parking on the west side continues.
- Queen St E, north side (Boulton to De Grassi): the weekday 4 to 6 p.m. parking prohibition is rescinded for the same period.
What About the Station Itself?
According to BlogTO, column construction runs from September 7, 2026 to May 28, 2027. Metrolinx says that means eight columns in the south work area (Queen and Strange) and eight in the north (Queen and De Grassi). Work above and beside Queen is expected to start in late 2027 and last five to seven months. No opening date has been committed, and the province has only said "2030s" for completion of the line.
A Street Name Question
Council asked City staff to report to the January 2027 Toronto and East York Community Council meeting with a recommendation on renaming Strange Street to Riverside Street. That's a request for a report, not a decision to rename.
What It Means for Owners and Buyers
- Day-to-day: expect sidewalk and curb-lane disruption on a few specific blocks for about three years. The listed dates are the maximum windows, not a daily schedule.
- Parking: residents on De Grassi and Strange should check the City's permit changes for their address.
- Longer term: transit is a long-term draw, but the line has no opening date. Treat any timing claim with caution.
- Buying near construction: visit at different times of day and ask about the street-level work before you decide.
Looking at Riverside Square Condos at 665 Queen Street East? Contact our team and we'll talk through the area. For the wider neighbourhood, see Riverdale and Leslieville on East End Homes.
This article summarizes publicly available City of Toronto and Metrolinx information as of October 2026. Dates and measures can change; confirm details with the City of Toronto and Metrolinx.