DETROIT — The city of Detroit has granted preliminary approval to a nonprofit group's plans to preserve the remaining portion of historic Tiger Stadium.

The city's Economic Development Corp. approved a plan and budget by the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy in a letter to the group dated Friday.

The conservancy wants to develop the old ballpark as a commercial and community space at an estimated cost of $27 million.

The conservancy must show by March 1 that it can provide the funding or the stadium will be completely demolished.

Tiger Stadium was built in 1912, and the last major league game was played there in 1999. Demolition began last year, but a wedge extending from dugout to dugout has been left standing while preservation advocates race to save it.