New Gateway Building Before Planning Board Tonight

The empty space that has been the lot at Humphrey and Redington streets since a in March may soon be filled with a 3,800-square-foot building.

The property owners, the Orloffs, are slated tonight to present members preliminary plans for a single-story commercial building.

The presentation and discussion comes a month before the owners expect to apply for a final site review special permit, according to the board's agenda.

Jayne Orloff Carey, whose family has owned the property for 40 years, is eager to see a new standing in Swampscott. 

"Oh, we are very excited," she said. "I wish things would move faster but it's important to do things the right way." 

She hopes the new structure is up by spring with tenants in place by next summer. Insurance settlement negotiations are complete, and the owners will be building on the original footprint, Carey said.

, however, will not rise to its original three stories, she said. It also will not house residential tenants, as it did before.

The cost of building three stories and the ease of use for the commercial tenants factored into the decision to build a single story and to forgo residential units.

Walter Jacob Architects of Marblehead designed the structure, Carey said.

The design includes an ornamental top, she said. The owner has been in touch with former tenants though several have already signed leases at other locations in town.

A former tenant who has interest in returning to the Gateway building is Raina Morgan, a hair salon owner.