Section of northbound DVP reopens after building destroyed by fire
Posted October 15, 2026 2:16 pm.
Last Updated October 16, 2026 6:01 am.
A section of the northbound Don Valley Parkway reopened on Friday morning following the safe demolition of an abandoned building that caught fire in Riverside.
The northbound lanes were closed from Thursday evening through the overnight from eastbound Gardiner Expressway at Jarvis Street, with northbound access for drivers resuming at Dundas Street.
According to the City, the Don Roadway, Eastern Avenue and Queen Street ramps were also closed during the demolition.
The lanes of the DVP reopened just before 6 a.m. on Friday.
Firefighters were called to the scene at Matilda and Munro streets, near the DVP and Dundas Street East, just after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. No injuries were reported.
Toronto police say the fire has been deemed suspicious.
At an update on Thursday afternoon, Toronto Fire Services Chief Jim Jessop said the building will be demolished following extensive damage caused by the fire.
Since the the building is around 30 feet away from the DVP, “the expressway will be closed while complex demolition using specialized equipment is underway,” the City stated in a release.
Multiple complaints reported on property: City of Toronto
The city says there have been a number of orders to the landlord of the abandoned building since 2020. However, they also say they only take enforcement action when bylaw requirements are not met.
“Since 2020, the City has received 10 complaints about the property: two related to waste, two to graffiti and six to the property being vacant,” Sean McGown, Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards at the City of Toronto said.
Officials say property owners are responsible for ensuring vacant buildings are secured against unauthorized entry 24/7.
“In this instance, all orders related to securing the vacant property have been complied with, while two open Orders related to waste and graffiti remain open,” McGown said. “Vacant properties are also required to be disconnected from utilities.”
With files from Shauna Hunt, CityNews
