Demolition under way to kick start biggest renewal project in downtown Hackensack

About half of the building that once housed Rainbow Castle Preschool on Main Street in Hackensack has been knocked down. What will replace it isn't known.

The Home Discount Center across the street has gone out of business.

-- HACKENSACK, N.J.

By VICTOR E. SASSON

EDITOR

The Rainbow Castle Preschool building damaged by a pile-driving rig working on Hackensack's biggest downtown renewal project is coming down.

Once the site is cleared, work is expected to resume on the 14-story apartment and retail building at Main and Mercer streets, still basically a big hole with steel beams protruding from the ground.

City officials ordered an evacuation of the preschool building in late July 2016, and also halted work on the project next door.

See: Construction closes day care center

The Rainbow Castle Preschool building at 142-48 Main St., Hackensack, in January 2017.

When completed, 150-70 Main St. will have 382 apartments and 7,500 square feet of new retail space on Main and Mercer streets, according to Alkova Cos., the developer. The building was expected to be completed in 24 months to 30 months, but now is more than a year behind schedule.