ZELIENOPLE — The Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau might partner with others to reopen the landmark Kaufman House, a restaurant in the borough closed for more than two years following a fire.

Tourism President Jack Cohen said that he will have a news conference Friday afternoon at the bureau’s headquarters in Zelienople when he will release more details about the project.

However, preliminary plans call for the Butler County Tourism Foundation to buy the Kaufman House from Ken Pilarski, the owner of the popular restaurant for more than three decades.

Pilarski has not reopened the restaurant after a fire destroyed the kitchen in October 2011, mainly because he’s been mired in litigation and disagreements with his insurance company.

He did not respond to calls for comment.

Cohen said he is still in negotiations with Pilarski about the sale of the building and nothing is finalized. He said the project could cost up to $2.5 million, money that could come from grants or loans.

If the project comes to fruition, it would turn the Kaufman House into a boutique hotel with about 20 rooms. It also would include a coffee shop and lounge.

In addition, the tourism bureau would partner with Butler County Community College, which would use the restaurant of the Kaufman House as a training area for its hospitality management program.

“What we’re trying to do is get that old building up and running again,” Cohen said. “The whole thing is dependent on the current ownership and if they’re willing to work with us and make this happen.”

Susan Changnon, a BC3 spokesman, said about 30 students are typically enrolled in the school’s hospitality program.

She said college President Nicholas Neupauer already has pledged to buy equipment for the Kaufman House, which will help train students in an internship-like setting.

Any students participating in the program would receive credit for their work.

In addition, the Kaufman House also might be used for non-credit cooking classes open to the community, a program already in place at BC3.

“We’re always looking for the opportunity for our students to have hands-on learning,” Changnon said. “It’s definitely a win-win. The project would restore the Kaufman House, which everyone loves. But it also includes an educational component.”

Perry O’Malley, the executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Butler, said that his agency is working with both the tourism bureau and BC3 on the project.

“Hopefully we can package together a rather exciting proposal for the community,” he said. “Right now we’re exploring the feasibility of it and to see what kind of monies are available.”

The redevelopment authority is applying for state funds to pay for the project.

It will meet at 9 a.m. Friday for the public to comment on its application to the state for money under the Keystone Communities Anchor Building Program.

The meeting will be at the authority’s office, 114 Woody Drive, Butler

O’Malley said that “a lot of good people are putting their heads together” to make this plan come to life, but he cautioned that the whole thing is far from a done deal.

“There is still a lot of work to do,” he said. “But what’s driving us is the fact that we have this tremendous building in a vibrant community that may continue to deteriorate if something isn’t done.”

Zelienople manager Don Pepe said that he hadn’t yet been briefed about the details concerning the proposal, but added any proposal to reopen the Kaufman House is welcome.

“It would obviously be a benefit to everyone in the community,” he said. “And especially with our Main Street revitalization program, this would be an important piece of that.”