Orono hopes to attract development to site that’s sat unused since 2015

Orono hopes to attract housing, commercial development or another project to a nearly 3.5-acre property that has sat untouched since late 2015.

Last week the town issued a request for proposals asking developers to submit their ideas by next month for redeveloping the property.

As Maine grapples with a housing crisis, many municipalities no longer have the luxury of letting land sit unused. Nearby in Bangor, officials has found it hard to draw developers because of high construction costs, so it’s offering incentives for developing a 10-acre city-owned parcel, including changing the land’s zoning and adding utilities.

Orono previously considered selling the property at 98 Penobscot St., which was home to the public works department before it moved to a newly built facility in December 2015. But former councilors and residents had concerns about too much traffic in the area, Mitch Stone, the town’s economic development director, told the council this week.

“My hope is to attract something to utilize that space that will enhance our community in some way,” said Sonja Birthisel, an Orono councilor. “I’m open to developers and other folks who might have a vision for what that is.”

While Birthisel doesn’t think there is a strong sense of urgency to address the property, there is an opportunity for the town to look forward and use its assets in constructive ways, she said.

A 2019 appraisal valued the property at $75,000 to $125,000 depending on how it would be used. While the town could get the property off its plate by selling it, “we’d like to think more creatively about how a potential developer or partner could use it,” said Dan Demeritt, the council’s chairperson.

A Maine Department of Environmental Protection review proposed that the site could be repurposed into single-family housing, a multi-unit residential development or a commercial or industrial business. It could also become a mixed-use complex including two or more of these options.

Demeritt sees many possibilities for the property and doesn’t want to influence the process as the town seeks proposals, but he acknowledged that affordable housing is a priority for the council.

As Orono searches for its next manager, questions have arisen over whether they would be required to reside in town and where they would find housing with few options on the market.

Birthisel is excited for the council to work on affordable housing, but “whether this is the right site for that, I’m not sure,” she said.

The site is on Orono’s east side, near residential properties, a recreational trails system and the University of Maine. The quiet, neighborhood feel of the area is something to keep in mind when the town reviews proposed projects, Demeritt said.

The town is looking for a project that meets its goal of supporting environmentally responsible development, according to its request for proposals. The project should build community, provide opportunities for affordable housing and small business growth and support expansion of the tax base. It should also align with the town’s comprehensive plan.

A 7,000-square-foot metal garage remains on the property from when the public works department was there. The vacant building is in disrepair and would require significant improvements if the town were to use it again, according to an engineering consultant’s July 2023 report.

A different firm conducted environmental assessments of the property in 2012 and 2017, which led the town to pursue a Maine DEP program that allows voluntary inspection and clean-up of properties in exchange for protections from the department. The program is designed to encourage the redevelopment of contaminated properties around the state.

Regardless of the kind of project the town pursues, Birthisel hopes it brings “new life and energy” to the site, she said.

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