Harris County officials vote to wash Astrodome

HOUSTON -- Houston's historic Astrodome is set to receive a scrubbing.

The Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation voted Wednesday to wash the exterior of the vacant structure. Officials say the cleaning will cost nearly $64,000. The work will begin in early December and run through January.

The multipurpose stadium opened in 1965 but hasn't housed a sports team since the Astros moved to Minute Maid Park in 1999. The cleaning will be funded with proceeds of the last two Astrodome memorabilia sales.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett has suggested turning the Astrodome into the "world's largest indoor park."

The NFL's Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have proposed demolishing the dome that's next to NRG Stadium.