One Morton Square or 100 Morton Street?

By David Pinto

I live at 1 Morton Square in the West Village. Or is it 100 Morton Street? I’m not sure. Neither, I believe, are many of the people who live there as both are listed on the front of the building.

For identification purposes, 1 Morton Square (as I shall continue to call it) is a tall brick building on the south side of Morton Street between West Street (once known as the West Side Highway) and Washington Street. I have a lovely apartment in an appealing building in a charming “village.”

My questions: Why does the building have two addresses? And where’s the square? Speaking only for myself, but certain that other residents share my views, the dual addresses provide nothing but confusion.

Let’s start with the obvious. When we order lunch or dinner, we’re never quite certain when, or if, it will show up. Why? Because some delivery people proceed to 1 Morton Street, which is at the other end of Morton, five blocks from here, the home of Bleecker Farms Deli. There isn’t even a residential door at 1 Morton Street. My temporary solution? When ordering, I give my address as 119 Morton Street, which is across the street from 1 Morton Square. Confused? So are the delivery people. 

Next issue: Ordering a car service. Often, when the drivers must decipher the conflicting address, they merely stop trying — and don’t show up at all. When they do, they frequently double-park in front of 119 Morton. Sounds simple, right? Guess again. Try crossing the cobble-stone street on a rainy, snowy or dank day. Sometimes it’s simply easier to forget the whole thing.

The conflicting addresses can even confuse the people who have been here before. And sometimes their confusion becomes our confusion. The deeper question is why? Why have two addresses in a building where all else is simple?

Theories abound. Some residents attribute the dual addresses to an attempt to sell the apartments for more money. After all, what could be snazzier or more appealing as an address than 1 Morton Square? Another possibility: Positioning an apartment building on a square is almost magical, conjuring visions of an old-world country replete with dueling swordsmen, damsels in distress, invading armies or just plain folk. 

Whatever the reason, the double-naming system certainly achieves its goal. Far as I can tell, the building is filled with residents, each of whom believes he or she lives at 1 Morton Square. Or is it 100 Morton Street? Oh well, who cares? We’ll let the Uber drivers figure it out. 

Any questions? Just ask the doorman.