Demolition crews may be back on Front Street later this year to tear down yet another structure on Hamilton's signature waterfront.

Developer SamSal Ltd. has submitted a proposal to the Department of Planning seeking permission to destroy the building which stands directly across the street from the Hamilton Ferry Terminal and about 100 yards from the recently razed Trimingham's Building.

The plan is to transform the structure, known as part of the Saltus Block, into a five-storey office and retail complex.

"We're looking forward to approval and getting on with it," said property manager Leonard Gibbons when reached at home last night.

His offices are located in the building along with ER Aubrey Jewellers, The Perfume Shop, Wadson's, and the Harbourfront Restaurant.

All the businesses lie between 19 and 25 Front Street.

Bermuda Church Society, a benefits administrator for the country's Anglican priests, owns the building.

Yesterday employees working inside the building said they knew change was in the works, but had no idea when developers planned to move them out.

They have been in this precarious position before.

In April 2004, word trickled down of a new direction and a $10 million redevelopment plan.

But in the end the approved proposal never became a reality and business owners, who were braced for a big move, didn't have to go anywhere.

It's possible the same thing will happen again, although this time, it appears Orbis Mutual Funds is already preparing to take over a large portion of the prime Front Street real estate.

Orbis currently occupies the penthouse level of the LP Gutteridge Building on Bermudiana Road, but is said by insiders to have outgrown that space and needs the kind of room a new office complex can provide.

Mr. Gibbons confirmed the financial services company would be a "major tenant".

He also believes the most recently submitted plans are far more likely to take effect if approved by planners.

He said: "It's a little different, the building's a little bigger.

"There's an alleyway into the building. It's an interesting building, a lot more thought went into it."

Cooper and Gardner Architects have drawn up the plans for the five-storey building and tell planners the structure will complement Hamilton's historic feel.

The original building in that location was constructed in the early 1800s, according to historical records, and by 1880 had become a Cable & Wireless Building.

The two-level commercial property standing there now was built sometime in the mid-1900's.

The newest development could begin taking shape very soon, if there are no snags in the approval process.

Mr. Gibbons estimates demolition will happen in short order after they get the green light from planners.

However estimates from various sources put the tear down date between May and year's end. Front Street has seen a flurry of redevelopment of late — there are new projects underway at the old Trimingham's site, near the A1 Supermarket at 131 Front Street, and perhaps very soon at the Seon Place right where motorists enter into Hamilton.