KITCHENER — The Barra Castle condo project on Queen Street in Kitchener is expected to gain some momentum after more than five years of planning.

Developer Polocorp made a deal with the Region of Waterloo to purchase two homes on Benton Street that back on to the Barra property and round out the project.

A third home on Benton was purchased from the region in 2012 and a fourth secured in a private sale.

"It completes our development intentions for the area," said Polocorp president Paul Puopolo.

The Barra Castle development will be a six-storey condo project which pays tribute to the 1930 landmark, torn down in 2010 when Polocorp couldn't save any of the original building.

It's located within the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District.

The four Benton properties — 168, 170, 176 and 180 — back on to the Barra land at 399-411 Queen and will be the site of new semi-detached residences and townhomes.

"The reason why we bought (them) was for additional parking and also because (the homes) provide an integral part of the streetscape along Benton," Puopolo said.

Ward Coun. Frank Etherington said the project fits with the general vision for the area.

"All the way along, people expected along Queen major developments in the way of apartment buildings," he said.

The only neighbourhood concerns he was aware of were in the past when squatters took up residence behind the Barra property.

There had also been some concerns about integration of the project with the surrounding neighbourhood.

"People start to worry when it goes back into a residential area, but (Polocorp) dropped down the size of the development," Etherington said.

The sale of 176 Benton for $265,000 and 180 Benton for $240,000 was approved by regional council last week.

In 2012, the region sold 168 Benton St. to Polocorp for about $280,000, according to property records.

Before work can start, the developer needs approval of a rezoning application. It was put before the City of Kitchener a couple years ago, then put on hold while the Benton properties were purchased.

Puopolo said he expects that will be dealt with this year and marketing will begin. Construction could go ahead next year.

The region obtained ownership of the properties it sold to Polocorp more than 30 years ago from the City of Kitchener for what was known as the Queen/Benton diversion project. The project was shut down after residents pushed back.

The region also sold 533 Queen St. S. last week for $322,000.

The sale of 152 and 156 Benton are still under negotiation, according to the region. The region still has properties on Mill Street to sell, but there has not been a move to do so.

Puopolo said it's an appealing area for development.

"One, it's near the (light rail transit), walking distance of two stations," he said. "No. 2 is you're close to shopping, you're close to the park and thirdly is we've had a lot of interest from the high-tech industry, especially for accommodation and for space here," he said.

Puopolo said the company has a couple other projects in the works, but couldn't offer details right now.

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Polocorp also owns property on Mill Street, but the plan is to deal with Queen and Benton first, he said.

Barra Castle was built by Molly Marquette in 1930 to mimic a Russian castle where she lived in her youth. What started as a single family home later had rental apartment additions on the back.

Its last tenants were kicked out in 2007 due to serious fire and electrical code violations found by inspectors.