It will take about 10 days to stabilize the Empire Towers office building in Glen Burnie once construction begins, Anne Arundel County officials said Monday night.

The 10-story office building, which was compromised on July 9 during un-permitted construction work in an underground parking garage, remains unsafe.

The building is privately owned, and the owners are working with a licensed structural engineering firm to evaluate and create a plan to stabilize the building at 7310 Ritchie Highway. County officials said construction work could begin early this week.

Officials have established a 150-foot safety perimeter — a potential collapse zone that is equal to 1 1/2 times the building’s height.

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A lane reduction on Ritchie Highway remains in place, shifting traffic out of the collapse zone. There are road closures along Crain Highway, too, detouring traffic on Eighth Avenue and Route 648.

Emergency grants available

County officials with the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation have created a $2,500 disaster recovery grant program for businesses inside the building or within the 150-foot collapse zone, 7300 or 7314 Ritchie Highway.

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To qualify, businesses cannot have insurance that would cover losses, or they must have an insurance deductible higher than $2,500.

The grant funds can be used for payroll, loss of revenue or replacing lost equipment or inventory.

In an emailed statement, Amy Gowan, the president and CEO of the the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, encouraged businesses affected by the incident to reach out.

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“We recognize the uncertainty and disruption this situation has created, and our team is committed to helping however we can,” she said.

Empire Towers was once the tallest building in Anne Arundel County, and remains one of the tallest. About 100 people were evacuated from the building last week, and no injuries were reported at the time.

This story may be updated.

Banner reporter Matti Gellman contributed to this report.