ANAHEIM -- The long-debated issue of what to do with Tiger Stadium might finally be close to a resolution. On Friday, the Detroit City Council voted in favor of a proposal to grant authority to dismantle part or most of the ballpark and auction off its parts.

The matter, which passed by a 5-4 vote, is the first step in Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's plan to redevelop the property into a combination retail-residential complex. The hope is to preserve Tiger Staidum's playing field for recreational and youth sports while possibly maintaining part of the stadium as a memorial.

The vote authorizes the city to auction off seats and other potential memorabilia, the proceeds of which could help pay for the demolition. From there, the city would be free to find developers. However, the council reportedly voted against transferring control of the stadium over to the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, a partnership of business, civic, labor and community leaders that has been a part of other development plans on the city.

Thus, what exactly unfolds from there still isn't clear, which is fitting given eight years of debate over what to do with one of baseball's relics. Opening in 1912, Tiger Stadium was second only to Boston's Fenway Park among the oldest parks in baseball by the time the Tigers left for Comerica Park following the 1999 season. For the past several years, the Tigers and their grounds crew have been in charge of maintaining the field and providing security at the city's expense.

Other than hosting a party when Super Bowl XL came to Detroit two years ago, Tiger Stadium has gone largely unused since the Tigers left, while the city and interested groups argued over whether to preserve it or tear it down. Under the mayor's plan, the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy would be given the opportunity to present a plan to preserve part of the stadium as a museum, provided it can come up with ideas for funding it.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell joined the discussion on Friday, addressing the council in hopes of delaying a vote until September and buying time for plans to save the park.