<img class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual" src="https://display.blogto.com/articles/20250417-RiverdaleShoppingCentre-32.jpg?w=1200&amp;cmd=resize_then_crop&amp;height=630&amp;quality=70&amp;format=jpeg" width="100%" /><p>Demolition crews are in the process of tearing down yet another Toronto shopping plaza, part of a major <a href="https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2025/04/125-queensway-toronto/">dying-off of retail centres</a> around the province.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/04/gerrard-carlaw-toronto-shopping-plaza-closing/">Riverdale Shopping Centre</a> at the northeast corner of Gerrard Street East and Carlaw Avenue is the latest casualty <a href="https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2024/09/2-10-the-east-mall-crescent-toronto/">in this trend</a>, and while the former retail plaza is&nbsp;currently being reduced to rubble, it's a change locals might soon be thankful for.</p><p>After decades of serving the community&nbsp;with a grocery store and other businesses, the shopping plaza is being cleared to make way for critical infrastructure serving the <a href="https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2022/11/449-carlaw-avenue-toronto/">upcoming Ontario Line subway</a>.</p><p><img alt="riverdale shopping centre demolition toronto" id="content-image-116359" src="https://display.blogto.com/uploads/2025/04/17/1744903449-20250417-RiverdaleShoppingCentre-29.jpg?w=1400&amp;cmd=resize&amp;quality=70" />It has been a full year since the<a href="https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2024/03/no-frills-toronto-carlaw/"> former No Frills location</a> anchoring the plaza at 449 Carlaw Ave. was shuttered, along with a Dollarama location, a Mobil gas station, and other businesses.</p><p><img alt="riverdale shopping centre demolition toronto" id="content-image-116358" src="https://display.blogto.com/uploads/2025/04/17/1744903359-20250417-RiverdaleShoppingCentre-37.jpg?w=1400&amp;cmd=resize&amp;quality=70" /></p><p>Metrolinx announced in late 2024 that demolition would begin at the shuttered plaza as early as January 20, 2025&nbsp;to free up space for the future Gerrard Tunnel Portal.&nbsp;</p><p><img alt="riverdale shopping centre demolition toronto" id="content-image-116357" src="https://display.blogto.com/uploads/2025/04/17/1744903358-20250417-RiverdaleShoppingCentre-25.jpg?w=1400&amp;cmd=resize&amp;quality=70" /></p><p>However, demolition has really only ramped up since the start of April, and crews are now making quick work of getting rid of the former retail centre.&nbsp;</p><p><img alt="riverdale shopping centre demolition toronto" id="content-image-116355" src="https://display.blogto.com/uploads/2025/04/17/1744903356-20250417-RiverdaleShoppingCentre-15.jpg?w=1400&amp;cmd=resize&amp;quality=70" /></p><p>Once demolition wraps up later this spring, the footprint of this shopping plaza will be transformed into a launch site for tunnel boring machines&nbsp;that will carve out the eastern section of twin underground tunnels that run beneath Pape Avenue towards the Don Valley Parkway.</p><p><img alt="riverdale shopping centre demolition toronto" id="content-image-116356" src="https://display.blogto.com/uploads/2025/04/17/1744903357-20250417-RiverdaleShoppingCentre-17.jpg?w=1400&amp;cmd=resize&amp;quality=70" /></p><p>This launch shaft will then be converted into a tunnel portal allowing trains to transfer between the tunnelled section and the shared GO rail corridor to the southwest.</p><p>Once open in 2031, the Ontario Line will add 15.6 kilometres of subway to the city's rapid transit network, linking Exhibition Place with the <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/07/mention-science-centre-station-ontario-line/">former Science Centre </a>site at Don Mills and Eglinton, where it will link up with the <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2025/03/eglinton-crosstown-lrt-opening-delayed-september/">Eglinton Crosstown LRT</a>.</p><p>After the Ontario Line is built, the remaining mall footprint is destined to be redeveloped into a <a href="https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2022/11/449-carlaw-avenue-toronto/">massive new transit-oriented community</a>.</p>