Urban Renewal commissioners on Wednesday approved a resolution to purchase the Brockway Center, an African American landmark by the Oklahoma Health Center, and to pay to move it as requested by its owner, the Care Center.

The Care Center, a nonprofit that assists abused children, bought the neighboring Brockway Center, 1440 N Everest, with plans to expand its campus. In a news release issued Wednesday afternoon, Care Center Director Stacy McNeiland said at the time of purchase she was unaware the house, built in 1915, was home for a half-century to the Oklahoma City Chapter of Oklahoma Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs.

“We originally planned to renovate that home on Everest just as we have renovated five other houses in the neighborhood,” McNeiland said. “Our architects and engineers began surveying the property for renovation purposes and discovered significant structural damage to the home. Working with our experts, we determined the best decision for our nonprofit and the kids we serve was to demolish the house and rebuild. It was only then that we learned of the building’s past use.”

The Care Center applied in January to tear the house down and won permission to do so by the Oklahoma Capitol-Medical Improvement and Zoning Commission in March. The demolition permit has been on hold with ongoing appeals to preserve the home by Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice, some members of the federation, preservationists and black activists.