By Renee Walk
OSCAR Group 

This past month, the final products rolled off the line at the Oscar Mayer plant on Madison’s Northside. While the end of operations bring with it the end of an era, the Organizing Strategic Community Action & Representation (OSCAR) Group and others are looking toward the future of the property and the possibilities therein. The City of Madison has announced the formation of a Strategic Assessment Committee. According to briefings by city officials, this committee will work with a consultant in reviewing the plant property, as well as the surrounding area, defining the borders of what will become a special area plan and surveying the economic and community impact and potential of the space. The OSCAR Group looks forward to our members participating on this committee, as well as continuing our own grassroots organizing to ensure that the wants and needs of the neighborhoods immediately around the plant are known. The city plans to announce membership in the committee in the coming months and the committee will begin meeting in September. In the meantime, the OSCAR Group continues to meet monthly on the third Monday of each month to share updates and plan community opportunities. Anyone interested in joining our conversation should feel free to reach out to
theoscargroup@northsidemadison.org.