06/01/2026
The City has successfully completed asbestos remediation for the former Shillito’s Department building in downtown.
With funding help from two Brownfield Remediation Grants from the Ohio Department of Development totaling $1,963,080, the City has invested over $2.5 million to remediate asbestos-containing materials from the former Shillito’s Department Store building. Formerly a department store, this long-vacant property is at a key corner in the downtown central business district in Cincinnati and part of the national register historic district. Now that the asbestos has been safely removed and properly disposed, the City will continue to explore options for the building’s rehabilitation for redevelopment.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was widely used for building construction materials due to its fiber strength and heat resistance qualities. The material has since been banned due to the risk of developing lung disease if the fibers are released and inhaled. Buildings constructed before 1988 may have asbestos-containing building materials and it can be costly to remediate the materials that are often found in insulation, flooring tile, and adhesives.
Learn more about asbestos here: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos