Maryland office building at risk of collapsing as local businesses forced to shut down

Glen Burnie, MD – Anne Arundel County has opened a new disaster recovery grant program to help businesses unable to operate following the structural integrity emergency at Empire Towers, where an unsafe building has remained under a 150-foot safety perimeter since Thursday.

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) announced that applications are now available for the Empire Towers Disaster Recovery Grant, offering initial grants of $2,500 to eligible businesses located at Empire Towers at 7310 Ritchie Highway or within the designated safety perimeter at 7300 or 7314 Ritchie Highway.

Grant program targets businesses forced to close

According to Anne Arundel County, businesses meeting the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply as soon as possible while funding remains available. Applications are available online at https://bit.ly/EmpireTowersGrant.

AAEDC is also assisting affected businesses with identifying temporary operating locations and connecting owners with additional recovery resources. Business owners seeking assistance can contact the organization at info@aaedc.org.

County officials also addressed concerns from businesses outside the collapse zone that have experienced reduced access because of road closures. The county said it is working with adjacent property owners to establish detour routes for businesses located at 500, 508, 512, and 514 Crain Highway North so employees and customers can safely reach those properties.

Building remains unsafe as repairs are planned

The emergency began Thursday at approximately 2:30 p.m., when the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to a 911 call at the privately owned, 10-story office building at 7310 Ritchie Highway. Officials said the parking garage beneath the structure was compromised during active, unpermitted construction work, prompting the evacuation of about 100 occupants. No injuries were reported.

The county’s Department of Inspections and Permits determined the building was unsafe for occupancy, and officials established a 150-foot safety perimeter based on standard collapse zone guidelines. The building owner has retained a licensed structural engineering firm, and remediation work is expected to begin this week. Once work starts, engineers estimate it will take approximately 10 days to install structural supports needed to stabilize the building.

County officials emphasized that no public entry is permitted into Empire Towers or the surrounding safety perimeter until inspectors determine the structure is no longer at risk of collapse.

Why it matters

The grant program provides immediate financial assistance for businesses that have lost access to their offices because of the ongoing structural emergency. While stabilization work is underway, county officials say the funding and business support services are intended to help affected companies continue operating and recover from the unexpected disruption.

What happens next

Anne Arundel County will continue monitoring repair work and inspecting the remediation process as it progresses. Officials said the safety perimeter will remain in place until the building has been stabilized and deemed safe, at which point affected roads and nearby properties may reopen. The county plans to provide additional updates as new information becomes available.

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