By Ted AYALA

Much needed renovations for Stengel Field’s facilities, which have fallen into disrepair in recent years, came closer to becoming a reality last Tuesday night.

Glendale City Council approved the awarding of a contract not to exceed $443,925 to Triangle Enterprises of Burbank, which will conduct the demolition of Stengel Field’s clubhouse and dugout. They were deemed unsafe for use and closed to the public in 2011 after inspectors found that the structures had suffered extensive water damage.

City staff determined in 2013 that rehabilitating the structures would not be cost effective, with estimates beginning at $3 million.

City Manager Scott Ochoa expressed the hope that the demolition will present Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) with a site that’s ready for new construction.

Glendale transferred responsibility for the field’s maintenance, operation and management to the GUSD in September 2013. The responsibility to rebuild on the field will also fall to GUSD, which Ochoa hoped would be able to gather funding from the community and from players in major league baseball (MLB) whose careers started at the venerable field.

According to director of Public Works Roubik Golanian, Triangle Enterprises was recommended for the contract after a prior round of open bidding had collapsed when the bidders were unable to meet the minimum requirements needed for the job.

“Factors [that determined Triangle’s recommendation] were prior experience, reasonable price and quality of work,” he said.

The Burbank firm’s previous demolition work for the city included the renovation projects for the Alex Theatre and Brand Library. Triangle’s work was delivered “on time and within the budget,” according to Golanian.

“We were very satisfied with their performance,” he said.

The main demolition work is slated to begin in June in order to avoid interfering with the baseball season. Stengel Field is currently the home turf for the baseball teams of Crescenta Valley High School and Glendale Community College.

Demolition will be completed by September 2015.

  Ted Ayala