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Phase 2 emergency stabilization at Empire Towers in Glen Burnie was completed on October 22, 2026, and structural engineers certified that the 10-story office building was no longer at risk of further collapse. That milestone lifted Anne Arundel County’s 150-foot safety perimeter and allowed nearby roads and businesses to move back toward normal operations. It did not reopen Empire Towers or its private parking garage: the property remained closed to public access, tenants could not yet retrieve belongings, and no occupancy date had been announced.
What happened at Empire Towers?
At about 2:30 p.m. on July 9, Anne Arundel County firefighters responded to a 911 call at 7310 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie. The parking garage beneath the privately owned office tower had been compromised during active construction that the county described as unpermitted. Approximately 100 occupants were evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteBecause the garage and building presented a potential-collapse hazard, the county established a 150-foot safety perimeter. The county said that distance equals one and a half times the building’s height, providing a debris buffer in a potential-collapse zone.
The county’s investigation remained active. The building owner and management company were responsible for remediation and for communicating with tenants and vehicle owners.
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What does completion of Phase 2 mean?
Empire Towers officials notified the county that Phase 2 emergency stabilization was complete. The Department of Inspections and Permits inspected the site, reviewed inspection reports and considered the structural engineer’s certification before lifting the perimeter on October 22.
The certification addressed an immediate structural threat: engineers determined that the building was no longer at risk of further collapse. It was not an occupancy approval, a final repair sign-off or permission for the public to enter. County officials said the tower and private garage remained closed, and a separate report from WMAR said the property had not been cleared for full use.
Are the roads and neighboring businesses open?
Yes, the perimeter change affected surrounding access, not the tower itself. Anne Arundel County coordinated with the Maryland State Highway Administration to remove road barricades and restore normal traffic. Empire Towers representatives also worked with contractors to reroute fencing so neighboring businesses could reach their buildings; the county expected that work to be completed by Monday, October 26.
Drivers and customers can therefore encounter more normal traffic patterns around the site while still being unable to enter Empire Towers or its garage. The distinction is important: removal of a public-safety perimeter does not make a restricted building operational.
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Can tenants retrieve belongings from the building?
Not yet. Additional work in the garage was expected to continue for four to six weeks before tenants could enter to retrieve belongings. That estimate describes the access-preparation period, not a promise that the building would reopen afterward.
Permanent repairs were expected in 2027, but officials had published no firm date for full occupancy. Until the owner, management company and county authorities issue updated access instructions, tenants should not attempt to enter the property or arrange an unscheduled pickup.
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Vehicle access was still being worked out after Phase 2. Contractors had removed approximately 48 vehicles that engineers or site personnel judged safe to remove while crews gained access for shoring and lashing work. CBS Baltimore reported that 41 vehicles remained in the latest update.
Officials were developing a route around structural shoring posts to remove additional vehicles. WMAR reported that removals were expected to resume in late November or early December, but no source promised that every vehicle would be recoverable or gave a final release schedule for each owner.
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What owners should do now
- Keep contact information current with the building owner or management company, which are responsible for vehicle-owner communications.
- Do not cross fencing or enter the garage without written authorization and an arranged escort.
- Ask for the planned removal sequence, required identification and any documentation needed to claim a vehicle.
- Record the vehicle’s condition and contents through the owner’s normal insurance process while access remains restricted.
What financial help is available to affected businesses?
The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation awarded 51 disaster-recovery grants totaling $127,500. Each grant was $2,500 for an eligible business located in Empire Towers or within the safety perimeter.
The Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration also offered eligible businesses up to $2 million in working capital. Eligibility, application procedures and loan terms were described through the county’s incident resources; businesses should verify current requirements before applying.
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The immediate phase was shoring and securing the compromised structure. The next stage is garage access work, including a safe route around structural supports for vehicle removal and eventual tenant access. Permanent repairs were expected the following year, but the engineering firm, contractor roster, final repair design and full-occupancy date had not been published in the available official updates.
That sequence explains why the October 22 milestone is significant without being a reopening announcement: collapse risk was addressed, the public perimeter was lifted, and longer-term remediation was still ahead.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is allowed to authorize entry to Empire Towers now?
Only the owner or management company, operating under county safety requirements, can arrange controlled access. The lifted perimeter does not create a general right for tenants, employees or vehicle owners to enter.
Why are vehicle counts reported as 48 removed and 41 remaining?
The figures come from different status updates and describe the latest reported removal totals, not a final inventory audit. The remaining count may change as engineers approve additional movements and site conditions evolve.
Will the county investigation delay permanent repairs?
The investigation was still active, so its findings may affect remediation decisions, enforcement or documentation. Officials had not published a final investigative conclusion or a guaranteed construction schedule.
What should a business do if it missed the disaster-grant window?
Businesses should contact Anne Arundel County economic-development officials to confirm whether applications remain open or whether other assistance is available. The reported program provided $2,500 grants to eligible businesses, while SBA lending followed separate eligibility and application rules.
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