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Town of Orono

Planning and Economic Development
Photo of Orono Maine
Mill Street businesses, circa 1910
Photo of Orono Maine
Orono's Monument Square, circa 1908
Photo of Orono Maine
The Stillwater River dam
 

Katahdin Site Redevelopment

Landmark Opportunity

In June 2009 a longstanding building at the center of Downtown -- the Katahdin Building -- burned to the ground.  For more than 150 years the building served many uses, including bank, tavern, post office, and apartments.  At the time it was destroyed, it was an apartment building.

From the Ashes

Shortly after the fire, the property owner, Town, and adjoining property owner decided to think about how a group of parcels at this key intersection might be redeveloped as a new landmark site.  During the ensuing months, there were several important events:

  • The Town and property owners engaged A4 Architects to assess the types and sizes of development that might be possible
  • University Credit Union acquired the lot where the building had been and became a partner in the discussions that were being held
  • UCU reached a decision to locate its administrative headquarters, as well as a branch for the credit union, at the site
  • The Town and UCU asked the architect to also assess the types and sizes of parking facilities that might be possible on the site to support UCU's new building as well as public parking to serve other downtown businesses and services

Images from Feasibility Studies

A4 Architects' feasibility study included a conceptual site plan and elevation of the building, subsequently modified by WBRC Architects for UCU, that captured the imagination of property owners, Town offficials, and local merchants. They are conceptual only but provide an idea of what the parties would like to achieve.

A parking feasibility study played off this design and -- again, on a conceptual basis -- suggested an approach that might serve the site and downtown well, pending engineering and detailed design and budgeting. The conceptual sketch (with deck and some covered parking) and parking site plan are beginning points only.

Agreement

In January 2012, the Town and UCU reached agreement on a joint redevelopment project.  UCU will build a structure for its administrative headquarters, a credit union branch, and space for other tenants; the Town will build a parking facility to support the new building and other downtown needs; and UCU and the Town will jointly finance an urban plaza fronting on the building that the public will be welcome to use.  Click here to read the announcement of the agreement. The image in the announcement is conceptual.

Timeline

The tentative timeline calls for design, engineering and budgeting during much of 2012, breaking ground early in 2013, and occupancy in late 2013 or early 2014.

Historic Photo

This photo is looking north on Main St. toward the former Katahdin Building, the brick building behind the Civil War Monument at the intersection of Bennoch and Main.