I called the contractor today and was fortunate to get him on the phone. I asked him whether he got the paperwork from the city yet for the garage demolition. He told me he had filled it out and is waiting to receive it back from the city and will be able to tear down the garage next week or the week after. 

This garage is a detached garage sitting in the backyard next to the alley. It has been empty and unused and helps block people from easily getting to the back part of our house from the backyard. The backyard is fenced-in with the garage attached to a part of the wooden fence. After it is gone, we will have an additional empty space in the backyard. It will be a nice change. It just feels strange not to have that garage sitting there.