50-year-old Astrodome to get a bath

As it edges closer to its 50th birthday next April, the Astrodome is getting a bath of sorts.

This week plans were announced to give the Astrodome, that historic bone of contention for many in the city, a serious power washing. Work should begin at the beginning of December and run until early January. It's a big structure so of course it will take a month and change for work to be completed.

The price tag on the heavy duty bath? Just around $63,800, all of which will be paid for from the proceeds of the last two Astrodome memorabilia sales, according to Joe Stinebaker, director of communications for Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.

The Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation unanimously approved the plan late Wednesday afternoon. Stinebaker says he's heard nothing but support for the scheduled cleaning.

The hope is that the work will stave off further decay along the exterior of the structure. A number of events coming up at NRG Park, including the upcoming RodeoHouston season, the NCAA Final Four in 2016, and Super Bowl LI coming the year after were named as reasons for the scrub-up.

The stadium, which opened in 1965, was the world's first domed super-stadium, but has not housed a sports team since the Astros left for Minute Maid Park after the 1999 season.

A local firm, Green Team Services, will be doing the work set to start Dec. 1 and conclude on Jan. 10 using a special "green" solution on the exterior pre-cast concrete.

Stinebaker noted that the work was approved by the Texas Historical Commission this week. The commission must sign off on all things related to the Dome's appearance as it continues to deliberate over whether the structure should be granted state antiquities landmark status. The matter has been tabled to give the county more time and leeway to strike a deal with private investors, while also protecting the half-century-old stadium from the wrecking ball.

While designation as a state antiquities landmark would not assure that the world's first domed stadium is safe from demolition, it makes the possibility more remote because the county must first get permission from the commission. That also is the case when an application for designation is still under consideration, meaning that tabling one has virtually the same effect.

In Nov. 2013, Harris County voters rejected a $217 million bond to turn the Dome into an event and exhibition center. That would have increased the property tax rate by half a cent.

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50-year-old Astrodome to get a bath