The Corporation of Hamilton is set to demolish Number One Shed as it gears up for the first phase of redeveloping the waterfront.

Exciting plans could be submitted to Cabinet next month, said Corporation of Hamilton Mayor Sutherland Madeiros, who indicated the transformation could eventually involve another lane of traffic, a park, a walkway and new buildings.

Various ideas on how to capitalise on Hamilton Harbour's beautiful views have been mooted over the years but more recently, under previous Mayor Jay Bluck, the Corporation appeared to back away from a controversial $639 million blueprint which included filling in part of the harbour to create new land and moving the container docks away from the city.

Asked if that plan was still on the table Mr. Madeiros said: "Maybe and maybe not, this is the first piece we can do on its own."

Number One Shed will be taken down in the next few months.

The space will be needed for other things under the plan but the structure is being taken down now because it needed rewiring. Cars will continue park there once the building has been removed.

Mr. Madeiros said the ferry terminal needed to be expanded to allow for more ferries to bring cruise ship passengers from Dockyard which will be Bermuda's main cruise hub, berthing two large ships, from 2009.

He said the current ferry terminal was old and too small for an expanded service. The revamp could involve reclaiming land and extending the terminal while setting up a temporary ferry terminal nearby.

"We have a preliminary plan that's being worked on.

"We are working on phase one which is primarily at the western end where the ferry terminal is now."

The Mayor emphasised that nothing had been finalised.

But pressed on what the new waterfront might look like he said: "We believe it will incorporate a pedestrian walkway on the harbourside, we hope it will include a park for people to relax and have lunch and also mixed use buildings."

He said the waterfront revamp might not be as grand as what had previously been envisaged.

"But we are looking at redeveloping the entire waterfront. So much is subject to change — nothing is in concrete."

"The idea now is we would build into the harbour somewhat."

But he said he didn't know whether it would involve solid concrete or platforms on stilts.

"There are a few options available now."

"What we are looking at right now would probably incorporate another line of traffic, in addition to Front Street, going in a westerly direction, for a portion of Front Street."

He said an increased traffic load was anticipated with more buses and taxis.

The new ferry terminal would be done in partnership with Government, said the Mayor, but other elements of the waterfront development might involve private business.

Under the previous plan the moving of the cargo docks had been envisaged for the last phase, said Mr. Madeiros.

"We are not going to stop moving ahead on the waterfront project because the docks may or may not move because that is a separate segment so to speak. We can go down as far as the docks if need be."