The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is awarding a $500,000 Idle Sites Grant for Oscar Mayer site improvement work. This investment of state resources will support reconfiguration and separation of utility infrastructure from a single user to multi-user and is a crucial first step in the redevelopment of the site. City Economic Development Division staff prepared and submitted the grant application on behalf of the new owners.

The new owners, Reich Brothers/Rabin Worldwide, have also announced that Total Administrative Services Corp. (TASC) will lease vacant Oscar Mayer offices. TASC, the Madison-based benefits administration company, signed a one-year lease on 13,000 square feet of space on the building’s second floor.

The Oscar Mayer Strategic Assessment Committee is formulating a vision and goals for the site and surrounding area and is interested in input from the public. A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 2, at 6 pm (tentative time) at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center. This meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn more and share their perspective on the “big picture” objectives for the site.

The committee has been meeting monthly since February 2018 and has discussed the development review process, relevant city plans, transportation issues, racial equity and social justice initiative, tax increment finance process, regional food systems, equitable development, economic development and environmental issues. The city is planning a new tax incremental district for the area to support the redevelopment project and wants to bring businesses, vitality and employment back to the site.

Stay tuned for more updates. A large industrial redevelopment is common in many cities but rare in Madison. This intentional and community-driven process will create the best redevelopment possible for the Northside, the city and the region.

Stay well.