Sad to see the ol' girl showing her age more and more. It's just a matter of time before the decision is made to scrap the place entirely. Astrodome Hit With Code Violations http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16918767/detail.html Astrodome Hit With Code Violations By Robert Arnold HOUSTON -- Action has been taken against a Houston landmark and people have been told to stay away for their own safety, KPRC Local 2 Investigates reported Thursday. Only maintenance workers and security guards are allowed to enter the Astrodome after what was once considered the eighth wonder of the world was hit with a laundry list of code violations. The City of Houston's Fire Marshal's Office leveled several citations against the 43-year-old structure. Local 2 Investigates obtained copies of those citations, which show the Astrodome's fire suppression system is shot. Joe Leggio with the fire marshal's office told Local 2 Investigates that the system does not have enough pressure to work the sprinkler system or provide enough water to allow firefighters to hook up their hoses. Other citations include an inoperable fire alarm system, faulty emergency lights and several electrical problems, including a non-working generator. The problems for the Astrodome began in January when the city of Houston determined the building needed a full certificate of occupancy. These certificates are required before a building can legally be inhabited or used for business. Leggio said major repairs and renovations would have to be made to the Astrodome before a certificate would be issued. Until now, the Astrodome has operated with only a partial certificate of occupancy. Harris County owns the Astrodome but the building is managed by SMG, which also manages all the buildings in Reliant Park. Officials with SMG told Local 2 Investigates repairs were already being made when the new fire code citations were issued on Wednesday. Leggio said the city determined the Astrodome needed a full certificate because smaller events and functions, such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's Hide Out, were still being hosted inside the building. There are also 36 employees who office inside the Astrodome. These employees work for Aramark and SMG's Human Resources Offices, SCS Security and Reliant Park's parking operation. Leggio said he has told SMG and the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation that events and functions can no longer be held in the Astrodome until the problems are fixed. Leggio said employees can enter the building on a voluntary basis, but he doesn't advise it. The executive director of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation, Willie Loston, said the decision had already been made to voluntarily move all employees out of the Astrodome and into temporary offices. Loston argued that repairing and renovating the entire Astrodome is unnecessary. Loston said only a portion of the Astrodome is used and will never again be used as it was in the days when the Houston Oilers and Astros called the Astrodome home. Loston cited the example of the inoperable fire alarm system. Loston said the system is only installed in the area of the Astrodome that was once the offices for Astros owner Drayton McLane and offices for Astrodome USA. Loston said the rest of the Astrodome has never had a fire alarm system. Loston said SMG and he have had a series of meetings with the city of Houston, trying to determine if the Astrodome is "grandfathered." Loston said since the Astrodome was built in 1965, it may not be subject to all current city of Houston building and fire codes. Loston said if this is the case, then the number of required repairs and renovations can be trimmed down. Loston said if the city of Houston determines the entire Astrodome must meet current code requirements, then it will cost $30 million to repair and bring up to code. Loston admitted he is frustrated that he has not gotten a final ruling from the city of Houston on this point. He also said there is no record that the Astrodome has ever been required to meet the codes the city of Houston is now requiring it have before a full certificate of occupancy can be issued. Loston said because of this unknown, he had to inform officials with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that the Astrodome may not be available next year for some of its functions. Loston said he is keeping Harris County Commissioners abreast of these developments. Commissioners will have to approve any expenses for repairs and renovation. Local 2 Investigates also received a statement from County Judge Ed Emmett. "This does not come as a big surprise," he said. "I have always been concerned about people being in that building."
Start the countdown...it's not looking good for Old Glory. I seriously doubt that White or the public would support a $30 million bill to bring the building up to code.
I was initially against demolishing the Dome because it's such a landmark and has so much history. But it's time. She needs to be put out of her misery.
I was also initially against it... but think about it this way. If they're going to tear down Yankee freaking stadium... why should we be upset if they're tearing down the astrodome? Besides, once it was going to be rennovated into a hotel/convention center, or casino (yea right), or movie studio (ridiculous), or whatever other crazy idea came about... it wouldn't have been recognizable anymore as a sports stadium, and it would be tantamount for that tennant to mainatain a profitable business (which is never a given) before the inevitable happened anyways.
The dome is something like 35 feet underground, even tearing it down is a problem. You can't demolish/implode it, the cleanup crews will work months to empty the hole. Then there's still a huge hole in the ground! Do we fill it up to build something on top? Maybe they can make a lil lake for us to swim and play in during tailgating! I know this Olympic 2016 discussion gets beaten to death when it come up but if Houston gets the bid, they will get all kinds of money to rennovate the dome to be a cricket stadium and host other smaller events. Plus, they will use that money to build where Astroworld used to be. If Hoston does not get the bid, then talks of tearing down the dome will start and private interest will buy up the Astroworld property. It sounds like a horrible idea, like planning your retirement around winning the lottery or something. But if we do land 2016 Olympics and things go the way the city planned it, it will be tremendous for the city. I even heard something about Lakewood church making a huge statue or something on top or around the old Summit to try and give Houston a landmark of some kind that is recognizable on a world scale. That was one of the reasons listed as to why Houston didn't get the 2012 American bid. SF has the Goldengate Bridge and NY has an assortment of world recognized things. As far as the world goes the Astrodome might still be the most recognizable thing in Houston All that being said, the dome aint going nowhere til this Olympic mess is figured out.
Nevermind, found it. But Houston was already eliminated. Chicago got the US bid. The other 3 finalists are Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo.
It's gonna be a shame to see the old girl go. Few places on Earth have I ever loved as much as the Astrodome. But it's time to look to the future. Any number of things could be built on that site for me to enjoy; currently I only have memories.
Because I never went to a game at Yankee stadium, but every childhood memory I have of baseball took place in the Astrodome. You have a point, though: as iconic as Yankee stadium was/is, it's time has come and gone, just like the 'Dome. I do think the Astrodome is a little different, though, because it was the first domed stadium. No major sports franchise had an indoor stadium before Houston. The building's historical value as an architectural accomplishment transcends the world of sports.
I thought I remembered reading that there was a huge amount of asbestos in the dome and the cost of removing it properly in order to demo the dome was huge. Does this ring any bells with anyone else?
As much as I hate Houston's tradition of destroying its own history, the Dome is pretty much ready to go. Its not like an old historical building downtown that could be renovated and still used. Even if the dome were renovated it wouldn't be used much. Time to let this one go. But we need to hold onto our OTHER architectural landmarks (the residential/commercial variety).
