GLEN BURNIE, Md. — Anne Arundel County officials have announced that repair work at Empire Towers, an office building evacuated due to structural integrity concerns, will commence this week.
The remediation process for the 10-story structure is expected to take approximately 10 days, during which structural supports will be installed to stabilize the building.
Currently, the building remains unsafe, and officials have stated that the 150-foot safety perimeter around the site will only be lifted once stabilization is complete.
Last week, first responders discovered that the parking garage beneath Empire Towers had been compromised during construction activities. According to Anne Arundel County Assistant Fire Chief Lawrence Shultz, a 911 caller reported observing significant debris and concrete on the garage floor, leading to concerns about safety.
As a precaution, over 100 individuals were evacuated from the building, and fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Shultz noted, “The biggest challenge right now is that not a single person hired by the property owner to provide a full assessment has been able to make it even halfway back into the garage. The contractors who have shared information with us have deemed that it's too dangerous for them to go into it until shoring is put in place.”
In light of the incident, business owners affected by the evacuation are encouraged to apply for the Empire Towers Disaster Recovery Grant, which offers $2,500 grants to eligible businesses located at 7310 Ritchie Highway or within the designated safety perimeter.
Additionally, a dedicated webpage has been launched to provide information regarding the incident, upcoming steps, and safety guidance, with updates being added in real-time as more details become available.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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