Fayetteville officials hope to finalize the city's purchase of the historic Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House in November, now that a $1.15 million bond issue has been approved.

"Closing on the bond issue is tentatively set for Nov. 2," said City Councilman Al Hovey-King, chairman of the city's Main Street Committee. City Council approved the bond in a called meeting last week.

Closing on purchase of the Holliday House probably will come within the month, he added.

The bond issue includes $425,000 to buy andfinish restoring the Holliday House. The rest will be used to finish restoring the historic Hollingsworth House, another Main Street project, and to continue improvements to Fayetteville's Courthouse Square.

It's all part of Vision 2020, Main Street's five-year plan to revitalize the city's historic downtown area and attract people to the downtown area.

"We're trying to create a downtown that's a place where you can eat and shop and bring your family and enjoy all of those things, or just take a stroll in the park," Hovey-King said recently.

The recent opening of City Cafe, a sit-down restarant across from City Hall, is a step in the right direction, said Hovey-King. Diners regularly linger in Heritage Park next to the County Administrative Complex, looking over the historical information arranged in concentric circles around the park's central fountain.

The Holliday House is considered the "crown jewel" of Main Street's efforts.

Victoria Wilcox, who bought the Holliday House several years ago and has worked through a volunteer committee to begin its restoration, will sell it to the city to continue its transformation into a museum to attract visitors and add to the city's self-guided walking tour. The house is connected to the family of famous gunman Doc Holliday.