Moore Center handed to Cocoa

COCOA – The city plans to take ownership next month of the historic Harry T. Moore Center from the Cocoa Housing Authority.

While the city will receive the iconic building on Blake Street in the city’s Diamond Square district for no charge, it will still cost taxpayers.

Cocoa anticipates problems with the roof, air conditioning, plumbing, electricity and termites in the structure could cost more than $120,000 to resolve.

“We know there is refurbishing of the facility that has to be done, but that can be budgeted and we can apply for grants to upgrade the building,” city councilman Clarence Whipple said.

The city council approved the acquisition of the Harry T. Moore Center last month to preserve part of Cocoa’s past.

The concrete-block building was built in 1924 and was the original campus for the all-black Monroe High School.

“That is part of our heritage, part of our history in the minority community,” Whipple said.

“To have it there and still standing is a great asset for the city.”

The Cocoa Housing Authority, which was seized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last year, offered the building to the city at no cost to concentrate on low-cost housing rather than renting commercial space.

HUD returned the housing authority to local control this month. A new CHA board approved giving the property to the city.

The building was originally Cocoa Junior High School and was renamed Monroe High in 1947.

When Monroe High moved in 1954, the building was named the Harry T. Moore Center, in honor of the local civil rights leader who died after a bomb blast at his Mims home on Christmas night in 1951. Harriette Moore, his wife, also died in the incident.

The 8,132-square-foot, single story building sits on 1.38 acres.

Its market value is $193,970, according to the Brevard County Property Appraiser.

After a Feb. 3 closing to exchange the property, the city plans concentrate on the building’s repairs and maintenance issues before deciding on its next occupants, according to Nancy Dresser, deputy community services director.

Some possibilities for new tenants include nonprofit organizations and a health clinic to serve the low-income residents in the immediate area.

“It is a beautiful building and has a lot of historic value,” Dresser said.

“I really don’t think it will be hard to get it occupied.”

Contact Gunnerson at twitter.com/scottgunnerson, sgunnerson@floridatoday.com, 321-360-1016.