GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WBFF) — Anne Arundel County officials have removed the 150-foot safety perimeter around Empire Towers, allowing traffic and nearby businesses to reopen after months of disruption.
The Department of Inspections & Permits lifted the restriction after confirming Phase 2 of stabilization work was complete and reviewing an engineer’s structural certification at the 10-story office building on Ritchie Highway.
The Maryland State Highway Administration is now working to remove barricades and restore normal traffic patterns, while Empire Towers contractors are redirecting fences so neighboring businesses can access their properties, which should be finished by Monday.
FOX45 has been following this story since the evacuation on July 9, when emergency crews responded to the parking garage under Empire Towers after a 911 report described a possible collapse.
Officials later said the 10-story building itself did not collapse, but found the underground garage had been compromised during construction that was not permitted.
Approximately 100 people were evacuated from the building as a precaution, with officials determining the property was unsafe for occupancy and posting public notice.
No injuries were reported. The county’s coordinated emergency response included fire, police, public works, inspections and permits and emergency management.
The disruption created major challenges for tenants. Many businesses lost access to their property and several local roads were closed.
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“It sucks for the local economy and the local business, the small mom and pop shops. There’s a game store at the bottom and there’s I think a dry cleaners as well there,” resident Matthew Weinstein said.
Access to the building and garage remains off limits while the owner and management team continue working with structural engineers.
“Building ownership has offered a $3,000 payment, without conditions, for any individual whose vehicle is currently located in the building garage. This payment is intended to be applied towards temporary, alternative means of transportation for such affected individuals,” Empire Towers representatives said.
Many tenants expressed ongoing frustration as they wait for certainty.
“I don’t even understand why they were doing construction in that building as it’s so high without, I guess, the proper permits and stuff,” resident Vonny Dorsey said.
Others like Weinstein called for further support, saying, “I think the county needs to step up and help these people that work at this building because they, like I said, they probably have children, they have families they have to take care of, mortgages, car payments.”
The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation launched a grant program to support businesses inside the former safety perimeter, with initial $2,500 grants. The Small Business Administration also opened low-interest federal disaster loans for affected small businesses and nonprofits, with applications due by June 21, 2027.
As repairs and inspections continue, the county said the building owners will keep the public updated.
This post was originally published on Fox 45 by Sinclair Media Group.
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