Sterling Motor Inn Closing For Good

Burlington, Washington- The City of Burlington just released a press memo in reference to the Closing of the  Sterling Motor Inn located at 866 South Burlington Boulevard.

After two years of investigations, the City of Burlington has entered into an agreement to acquire the Sterling Motor Inn in lieu of condemnation of the property as a blighted property.

According to a press release from Burlington Administrator Bryan Harrison, after an inspection, the City of Burlington  contacted the owners  of the motel about fire and building code compliance issues that exist at the Motel. Based on those issues, the City posted a written notice at the Sterling Motor Inn on Thursday November 17th, 2016. The notice indicates that most of the rooms must be unoccupied until those issues are resolved.   The Sterling Motor Inn owners are cooperating in that effort.  The City has also obtained information indicating potential contamination by methamphetamine in portions of the building.  As required by State statue, the City notified Skagit County Public Health of these findings, and requested support in order to address public or environmental health concerns raised by the potential contamination.

According to the release, roughly 35 people currently reside in the facility. The city, County, Pioneer Human Services, Community Action of Skagit County, SPOT and other local agencies are working together diligently to offer transitional services to those affected by the notice.  Local community orgnaizations have stepped up to offer resources to those residents.  If you would like to donate to assist those who have been displaced, please visit Skagit County Community Action webpage at https://communityactionskagit.org to find out how you can help.

Multiple complaints from surrounding businesses in the past two years, along with a high frequency of calls to police, led City of Burlington officials to begin a conversation with the Motel owners beginning in the spring of 2016 to discuss options for the facility.

“Our goal was to work wiht the property owners to find the best resolution to what was becoming a community problem,’ said City of Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton. “Our City Council approved either a purchase of the property or condemnation of the building late this year, and we signed a purchase and sale agreement with the owners in late October.”