HOLLIDAYSBURG — Borough Council approved the transfer of a liquor license from Altoona that has been in safekeeping since its former holder, the Phoenix Restaurant, closed in 2018.

The inner-municipality transfer was requested by Brian and Jennifer Buffone for their new restaurant, The Reserve at Hollidaysburg, 312 Allegheny St., borough solicitor Nathan Karn said during the public hearing. The restaurant will be located in the old Citizens Bank building.

The Buffones’ attorney, Tom Hooper, said that drinking would not be the focus of the restaurant but would “add to the entire atmosphere of the meal.”

“I would note that the total investment likely would be north of $1 million in the borough,” Hooper said. “We’re looking to hire in excess of 20 or perhaps 25 folks. I believe this to be a great asset to the borough.”

Brian Buffone also spoke during the hearing, saying that he and his wife’s goal is to “bring a more upscale dining experience to the area that Hollidaysburg residents can call their own.”

For the restaurant, Buffone said they recruited chef David Noto, the current food and beverage director at Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer Country Club.

Noto was also the executive chef at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort for 15 years, Buffone said.

“I think it’s a great thing, bringing another business in,” Councilman Brady Leahey said.

Buffone expects the restaurant to open in the fall.

In other matters, the council approved a budget modification for Community Development Block Grant funds allocated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

“Just to refresh everybody’s memory, back in August of 2020, the borough received 10 extra allocations of CDBG funds that were allocated from the CARES money,” Blair County CDBG Coordinator Trina Illig said. “It was to address the COVID situation at the time.”

With the CDBG-CV contract set to expire on Feb. 6, Blair County is proposing to reallocate any remaining funds to the new family shelter operated by Family Services that will serve homeless Blair County residents.

“So in order to keep the funds in Blair County and not see them go back and get recaptured and go somewhere else, we are recommending that any remaining COVID funds get reallocated to the family shelter,” Illig said, adding that the Department of Community and Economic Development had identified this as an eligible act.

Hollidaysburg Borough spent just $3,730 of the $65,513 it was allocated, so council unanimously approved the allocation of $60,282.20 to the shelter of its remaining $61,782.26, with the remaining $1,500 going to administrative costs.

Council also approved the final land development plan for Gretka Real Estate Partnership’s Holiday Hills Apartment on Houndstooth Way extension. The plan shows seven apartment buildings as well as a parking facility.

“It’s pretty much the same plan as the preliminary plan,” Director of Planning and Zoning/Code Enforcement Gerald Harbison said. “They have it pretty much designed so there’s not much difference in the final plan.”

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.