The demolition of historic Tiger Stadium is inching closer.

The Detroit Economic Growth Corp., a development arm of the city, issued a request for proposals last week seeking a demolition contractor to raze most of the old ballpark. Contractors have until Nov. 20 to put in bids.

The job would require saving a corner of the stadium for a community center and memorial.

Scott Veldhuis, project manager for the DEGC, said once bids are submitted, the DEGC will study them and make a recommendation to the city's Economic Development Corp., a quasi-public board that controls the stadium site. The EDC is expected to issue a demolition contract by mid-December.

If that schedule holds, demolition could begin around January or February.
The Detroit Tigers left the stadium after the 1999 season for Comerica Park. A lengthy debate over the stadium's fate led to the City Council approving Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's plan for the site in July.

The plan calls for razing about 90% of the stadium structure, preserving the playing field for youth baseball and other activities, saving a small portion of the stadium near home plate and redeveloping the land ringing the field as residential housing and stores.

The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, a Corktown neighborhood group, is working with the city on plans for creating the community center.