The Building That Madison Mayor Paul Soglin Did Not Want to See Built in Middleton

Photo by Retiring Guy

Spectrum Brands to move headquarters to Middleton.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/19/2012)

Sounds like a done deal to me.

The new four-story, 210,000-square-foot building will sit on Deming Way, just west of the Beltline and north of Discovery Drive. It will cost about $25 million to build and will be owned by Livesey Co., owner John K. Livesey said. Spectrum Brands will have a 15-year lease. 

Letter from Mayor Paul Soglin to David R. Lumley, CEO, Spectrum Brands.  (1/25/2012)

Banking on history.

Spectrum Brands is a storied Madison company.  Its predecessor, the French Battery Company was founded here in 1906 and Madison has tried to be a good partner ever since.  Madison was pleased to work with you in 1984 to provide over $2 million in TIF assistance for your current headquarters and to rename your street Rayovac Drive.  We would welcome the opportunity to continue your legacy within the City.

Soglin wants Spectrum Brands to switch new HQ site to Madison.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/31/2012)

“My main objective right now is to show that we can provide as good a location that is more convenient, more central to their 470 employees,” Soglin said Monday.