Here is the front of the Hotel Sterling in Wilkes-Barre. The other photo was shot from the back.
It's the first Monday in August, and it's almost "back to college" time. Parents will soon be dropping off their children at King's College and Wilkes University. I hope they don't get a look at the Sterling. They might not let their kids out of the car.
The Sterling has been gutted. The big, tall building that used to stand at the rear is gone. The people in charge of the renovations say work is moving forward. There will be retail space on the first floor, with offices on the second, and apartments above. Great! The powers that be say we are not to be discouraged because there's no activity at the site. The project is not dead. I'm okay with that.
Here's the problem. Can't someone put up a banner on the building, saying something like "the new Sterling is coming soon?" It looks like just another abandoned building.
There are some good things going on in the city. It doesn't take much to leave a horrible impression.
