H-D museum is intended to make money for Harley.

Harley-Davidson wants to pull out of a deal to construct an office building near its new museum in the Menomonee Valley in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Harley agreed six years ago to build an office building along with its museum, which opened in 2008. Opponents to the museum argued that the land it would be situated on could better be used for development that would result in office or light-industry jobs, so Harley-Davidson said it would put up office buildings as part of its museum complex. The office space would result in about 300 jobs, Harley said.

The city has paid about $10-million into Harley's museum development.

But as Harley-Davidson's economic fortunes decline, the motorcycle manufacturer is seeking ways to save money, and wants to back out of the office deal, according to a story on the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel's website.