HACKENSACK, NJ—Construction on Alkova Companies' 150-170 Main Street multifamily tower in downtown Hackensack, NJ is underway, and the project presented several design challenges handled by Poskanzer Skott Architects of Ridgewood, NJ.

One of those was a site plan approval received in the early years of the new urban redevelopment boom, when the town was still gaining an understanding of what changes were needed to facilitate development.

"It required us, with the client's blessing, to revisit and look at it slightly fresh," Barry Poskanzer, AIA, tells GlobeSt.com exclusively. "It came with some constraints. Those were conditions by a planning board and a city that I think were getting accustomed to new development projects. This was a very compact and very dense project."

One key condition was to stimulate Main Street, says Poskanzer. "They are extremely conscious of how this appears as a piece of urban fabric," he says. "They were very clear about not having an open parking garage, so it's behind walls, rather than being open parking decks. It's designed in a way that you don't know it's a parking garage."

The 382-unit project – located in the heart of the 160-acre Redevelopment District – is serving as a catalyst for the city's revitalization as a "live, shop and play" environment.

"This property will be defined by attractive, bright, efficiently laid-out apartments with fabulous views of the Manhattan skyline and county courthouse," Poskanzer says. "From an architect's standpoint, this type of semi-urban context – which calls for a strategic blend of traditional, walkable-city amenities and suburban conveniences – provides us with an opportunity to be particularly creative."

Located on a repurposed 1.35-acre parcel that formerly housed seven buildings and a parking lot, the property will include a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom residences, with amenities including a pool and rooftop garden, below-grade parking and 7,500 square feet of street-level retail space.

Poskanzer noted that Hackensack's Main Street-anchored transformation, still in its infancy, stems from 2012 zoning changes intended to encourage redevelopment of high-rise residential in a transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. "The city has great potential, and Alkova is at the forefront of this revitalization." 

The 150-170 Main Street project represents the first Poskanzer Skott partnership with the Edison, NJ-based development group. "We are thrilled to be working with Alkova's principals to turn their vision into reality, and to being part of their success," Poskanzer said.

Poskanzer Skott has designed thousands of units in projects ranging from urban luxury towers to mid-rise neighborhood developments. In addition to residential real estate, Poskanzer Skott's work on behalf of public, private and non-profit clients spans the office, industrial, retail, education and health care sectors.

Correction, 12/15/2015: Because of an editing error, the second paragraph of this story was incomplete earlier today. It has been corrected.