March 7. By Dave Vieser. A Chicago-based developer wants to transform the long-vacant Anchorage Marine building on Highway 21 at Westmoreland Road into a combination bar and eatery. Under the plans submitted by David Stockwell, of Emerging Concepts, the prime corner would become a home for live entertainment, a bar and food trucks.

The property, at 18418 Statesville Road, sold for $1.7 million last week. According to Mecklenburg County tax records, the property was assessed at $1.678 million. It was owned by the old Bridgeport Fabrics, a company from Davidson. According to Realtor Terri Mayhew, PDQ, the owner of Tenders, also closed on two lots across Westmoreland at 18336 Statesville Road, for $1.1 million.

“The proposal is to utilize and renovate the existing building to have a bar utilizing local brewers,” said Cornelius Planning Director Wayne Herron, “along with a station for food trucks to pull in and a stage and picnic area for patrons to eat and enjoy live music.”

The property has been vacant for at least 12 years. Stockwell plans to call his facility “BoatYard Eats.”

“We plan to create easy vehicle and pedestrian flow between areas of entertainment with an open stage, grass yard with fire pits, bar, food trucks and a kids play area” he said. “It would be a place for the family, a girls’ night out, or just to meet up with friends.”

Eat in/take out restaurants, like Tender’s Fresh Food on the other side of Highway 21, are allowed in most of Cornelius, but not in the downtown district. The proposal will be up for discussion at the town’s Pre Development Review Committee’s meeting on Wednesday March 8 beginning at noon in Town Hall.