ORONO — The new owner of Orchard Trails apartments plans to renovate the 8-year-old clubhouse and rental units to make them more attractive to students, according to an official with the company that manages the complex.

“It was top of the line when it opened … however, it’s no longer 2006,” Jason White, regional manager for Grand Campus Living, said Monday.

While nothing is set in stone, initial plans are to start by renovating the clubhouse, White said.

“We’re going to upgrade the fitness center, computer lab and what we call The Great Room, which will be renovated into a cafe with a coffee shop with comfy couches,” White said.

After the clubhouse is done, or nearly completed, upgrades will begin on the four-bedroom, two-bath apartments. The clubhouse should be completed during the spring semester. The entire complex can house up to 576 residents.

“We’re considering internally adding paint, countertops, new carpet in the bedrooms,” and additional outside cosmetic improvements, White said. “We’ll do those in phases over the next several years to get them all remodeled.”

Orchard Trails was purchased in May by Boston-based Orion Student Housing, which owns a 688-bed facility in Durham, N.H., and is in the middle of developing another 197-bed complex near the University of New Hampshire. Orion also added a 141-bed property located in Bloomington, Ind., to its portfolio in March.

The Orono complex, which is located near the Rangeley Road entrance to the University of Maine, is a good investment for Orion, and has a great retention rate for renters, White said.

“The onsite team, the maintenance supervisor and manager, have been there since the beginning and it really makes a big difference,” White said. “It’s really, truly a community where they know all the residents.”

Orchard Trails is the first of three large student housing complexes to be built or planned for Park Street. The Grove, which can house up to 620 students, opened two years ago and the Avenue Orono, a 270-unit complex located at the end of Washburn Drive adjacent to Orchard Trails, received planning board approval in June.

Town officials, who dealt with a number of complaints about move-in conditions at The Grove earlier this month, have not received any complaints about Orchard Trails this year, according to Code Enforcement Officer William Murphy.

The Orchard Trails owner also is considering adding outdoor amenities, but have not yet decided what those will be, White said.

“Maine winters put a damper on putting in a swimming pool,” he said jokingly.

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