[Firstly, before we start, this is my first blog here in a while. Although a noble subject, I have branched out from writing a blog exclusively on Loudoun County Public Schools. If you wish to continue following my latest adventures and projects, visit History Scout!]
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| Sterling Community Center Annex, 2016 |
[Update August 2023: This school has now been demolished. Check out Sterling Annex DEMO DAY 1]
Why so popular? People want to find out what is going on with the stately building on the corner of a busy interchange, hauntingly falling into disrepair. A lack of online information, coupled with my post being the first choice when you type in "Sterling Community Center Annex," and there you go.
When I last wrote about this former 1940's school building in 2013, Belfort Furniture had bought the property. Since then, Belfort has been working on redeveloping this and 7 other adjacent land parcels into a new economic/residential area. This has involved a lot of planning, rezoning requests, county government meetings, and so forth.
In 2015, when Belfort Furniture spoke with Loudoun's Board of Supervisors, they said they were considering incorporating elements from the school's architecture into the new building. While the building is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Board of Supervisors decided in 2008 not to add it. They also recommended the building should be demolished rather than being reused.
So the building is in limbo until these plans are finalized. It is honorable Belfort is even considering to save some of the building. I hope they do.
While all of this has been going on, a few years without maintenance are starting to show on the school building. Check out these before and after shots (Summer 2012 and January 2016):
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| Front of Sterling Annex, 2012 |
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| Front of Sterling Annex, 2016 |
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| Flagpole, 2012 |
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| Flagpole, 2016 |
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| Side Door, 2012 |
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| Side Door, 2016 |
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| Inside Hallway, 2012 |
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| Inside Hallway, 2016 |
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| Backside of Sterling Annex School, 2012 |
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| Backside of Sterling Annex School, 2016 |
The building is being taken care of, yes, but it's more patch jobs than fixing problems. Again, with it being in limbo for its future, that's all anyone would want to put into the property.
Here are some more pictures:
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| Detail of the front doors |
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| Now that the plants have been cut, you can finally see into the Auditorium! |
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| Backside of the school |
Thank you again, wandering internet travelers, it was nice to revisit the Sterling School.
Sources Used:
Loudoun Dept of Planning and Zoning Memorandum - 3/18/2015
Sterling's Belfort Furniture bids to redevelop with new homes and retail - and drops a subtle ultimatum
Board of Supervisors Public Hearing - 7/8/2015
Read all Sterling Annex Posts:
Sterling Community Center Annex (2012)
News on the Sterling Annex Building (2013)
Sterling Community Center Annex - 2017 Update
Sterling Community Center Annex - 2018 Update
Sterling Community Center Annex - 2019 Update
Thank you for writing about the Sterling Annex! I went to a summer camp there in the very early 90's for a few years when school was let out for the summer. We had to wear yellow t-shirts that an image of a sun on them and said "Sterling Annex" or something similar to that. I believe I attended summer camp there from the years 1990 - 1993. We definitely used the baseball field for kickball games. And I remember somebody once brought in their Nintendo Entertainment System (original NES) and we had a competition in the auditorium to see who could get the highest score before the game was over.....and I won! Good memories. It's a shame to see it as rundown as it is. Again, thank you for posting and writing about this place.
ReplyDeleteI was a summer camp counselor in 1993, it was my first job when I was 14. I still have my tshirt. I had all the kids sign their names on it with puff paint. Definitely good memories!
DeleteI went to pre school there from 2000-2002! The memories I have from that place will last with me forever!
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