BoatYard | Photo by Jason Benavides

Sept. 20. By Dave Yochum. Small-town government shone yesterday during a meeting of the Pre-development Review Committee (PDRC) when developer Jake Palillo presented plans to redevelop the BoatYard property at the corner of Westmoreland and Old Statesville.

Committee members as well as Mayor Woody Washam praised the concept—an automotive services complex—but not the location.

Palillo outlined plans for a convenience store and gas pumps, a high-end car wash, multiple detailing options and an oil/lube facility.

There was cordial give and take at a point early on in the development cycle, well before investments are made in design and planning.

“If BoatYard goes away we’ll be a sleepy town with nothing to do,” said Joseph Capps, owner of Eclipse Tinting, a business on Old Statesville Road. “Lake life is going away…let’s not to take away the last music venue. “It would be a great idea to repurpose the property like an Optimist Hall.”

Palillo is one of the most prolific and noteworthy developers in North Mecklenburg with projects like Bailey’s Glen in Cornelius and Symphony Park in Huntersville under his belt as well as multimillion-dollar lakefront estates.

Jake Palillo at the Sept. 19 PDRC meeting | Photo by Jason Benavides

Property is for sale

The BoatYard property, although a landmark in Cornelius, has been on the market for some time.

Palillo said he had the property under contract in excess of $3 million.

It opened in the 1970s as a boat dealership until ultimately closing with inventory still inside. Members of the Stockwell family purchased it in 2016 for $1.7 million, opening BoatYard Eats in 2018.

The food, beverage and live entertainment business changed hands in 2020, but the property remained in the hands of Old Swan Development, where members of the Stockwell family are members of the LLC. The visionary behind BoatYard Eats was David Stockwell who passed away in May of 2023.

Highest and best use?

With a new Exit 27 expected, as well as offices related to the new Atrium hospital south on Hwy. 21, the intersection with Westmoreland is destined for transformation.

The PDRC as well as town officials were looking for something more substantial than a car services operation, yet one that pays homage to the popularity of live music at BoatYard.

Joseph Capps at the Sept. 19 PDRC meeting | Photo by Jason Benavides

In fact, Palillo had already pitched an Optimist Hall-like operation with food booths and entertainment at night, but parking would be inadequate based on the footprint of the 4.3 acre site.

Optimistically speaking…

Optimist Hall is a hip site in Charlotte with a wide variety of food and bar stands plus art, events and indoor-outdoor seating.

Palillo said such an operation would need 300-plus parking spaces, while automotive services customers come and go relatively quickly.

Palillo and town planners appeared ready to go back to the drawing board for solutions, including looking at adjoining properties for additional parking.

An Optimist Hall-like operation would accommodate live music, something that’s disappearing from Cornelius. So retaining a format for live performances was key to those who attended the PDRC meeting. Ironically, that’s what Palillo first proposed. The PDRC is strictly an advisory committee; it does not vote on projects that come before it.

Optimist Hall, Charlotte

Quotable

“Jake does great work but the issue is highest and best use…what he does will be top of the game—I have a lot of confidence in what he has produced. You can’t put up a hospital and a $70 million interchange…and expect that BoatYard will stay there exactly as is,” Mayor Woody Washam said.

Chris Boukedes, the operator of the popular venue, could not be reached for comment.