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

Maryland Office Building At Risk of Collapsing as Local Businesses Forced to Shut Down

by
July 14, 2026
··
Eligible businesses forced to close because of the Empire Towers safety perimeter can now apply for $2,500 disaster recovery grants while stabilization work continues.

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.

Shore News Network
Shore News Network Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

  1. Maryland Office Building At Risk of Collapsing as Local Businesses Forced to Shut Down
  2. Georgia reservoir death leads to three murder arrests, including victim’s girlfriend
  3. 14-Year-Old Boy Stabbed in Head on North 15th Street, Philadelphia Police Investigating
  4. New Jersey Law Protects Migrants from License Plate Reader Data Sharing, But Not American Citizens