Overview
- Unpermitted construction in the Empire Towers parking garage caused ceilings to sag and rebar to be exposed, prompting Anne Arundel County to evacuate roughly 100 people and set a 150-foot safety perimeter on July 9.
- An email from building management and the owner’s law firm says an engineer’s analysis finds the structure unsafe and that it is highly unlikely anyone will be allowed to enter or remove vehicles for at least 90 days.
- Emergency shoring and stabilization work has begun but is proceeding slowly because crews must address complex, localized structural problems before they can safely enter the garage.
- Dozens of cars and tenants’ belongings remain trapped, leaving businesses and staff displaced to remote or temporary offices and causing personal and operational hardship.
- The building’s insurer is withholding rental and damage payments pending its investigation and Anne Arundel County is posting official updates at aacounty.org/empiretowers as management and engineers plan next steps.