Cocoa Beach could sell city hall building

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — City hall for sale?

In the city of Cocoa Beach, it's a real possibility.

Mayor Dave Netterstrom suggests the downtown building which first opened its doors for city business in 1962 is run down.

City commissioners recently discussed selling it.

Netterstrom believes it might make great location for a boutique hotel.

"Our arms are wide open to anybody who wants to come in and do something that fits with our downtown," Netterstrom said.

"Maybe a version similar to the Grand Bohemian in Orlando so it would be a nice draw for our downtown."

That would mean finding a place to build a new city hall.

Netterstrom said one possibility would be to move city hall from its current location to right across the street where the main fire station is now.

When the fire department moves to its new building the city could build a smaller city hall and move some departments out of downtown to another building with open office space near the water treatment plant.

Downtown business owner Emerald Eberhart worries about what could come in.

"I keep picturing, as other people do, a huge, tall hotel," Eberhart said.

She's hoping it will be something that will fit in with the smaller downtown feel that many of the unique shops and restaurants already bring.

The mayor hopes if the city moves in that direction, it will bring more visitors and encourage more businesses to open nearby.

WFTV