Hamilton County is asking the federal government to release grant money that would fund demolition of a blighted building at the corner of Reading Road and Main Street in Sharonville, clearing the way for shared parking in the city's Downtown Loop.

The county plans to submit its request for Community Development Block Grant funds to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on or about Friday, July 31, 2026, according to a public notice posted on the city of Sharonville's website July 13. The building at 11186 Reading Road and 11177 Main Street is the former Cheviot Bank property, which also once housed a gas station.

Angela Rahman, administrator of Hamilton County Community Development, certified to HUD that the county completed its environmental review and found the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. A full Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

The demolition is one piece of the city's $75 million Downtown Loop Redevelopment Project, a partnership with Elevar Design Group and the Mayerson Co. that envisions roughly 200 residential units and 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail across five new mixed-use buildings.

"We've been hearing for years about the deterioration of properties in our downtown loop, and there wasn't enough places for people to go," Mayor Kevin Hardman told WCPO in February 2026, when the broader redevelopment plan was announced. "(People would) love to see restaurants and retail spaces."

Several other Downtown Loop properties were demolished earlier in 2026, including buildings at 11121, 11125 and 11141 Main Street and 3370 Walnut Street. The Reading Road parcel's demolition is scheduled for the third or fourth quarter of 2026, later than other city-purchased parcels because underground storage tanks and contaminated soil must be removed to Ohio EPA standards, according to the city's project page.

Once cleared, the site will become shared parking supporting existing businesses along the Loop. According to the city's project page, the number of available public parking spaces will not decrease as the redevelopment moves forward.

Mz Jades Soul Food, a family-owned restaurant operating near the former Cliff Hardware store on the Loop, is already anticipating more foot traffic. Operations manager Jeneice Allen told WCPO in February 2026 that she expects an increase in customers once construction wraps up.

Sharonville City Council voted unanimously on December 16, 2025, to authorize a development agreement with Elevar and Mayerson. On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, council approved a cooperation agreement with Hamilton County under the Housing and Community Development Act, the formal mechanism allowing the county to administer CDBG funds on the city's behalf.

Residents who want to weigh in on the environmental review must submit written comments by Thursday, July 30, 2026, to Hamilton County Community Development Division, 138 East Court St., Room 1002, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. The Environmental Review Record is available for inspection at the same address on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. After the comment period closes, HUD will accept objections for 15 days following the submission date. Objections go to HUD at 200 North High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215, or by email to [email protected].