Not all buildings can be pioneers and spark renaissances, but often not being first does not a project is not important.

The explosion of real estate activity in the Far West Village in the early years of this millennium is often attributed to Richard Meier's handsome, Modernist towers facing the Hudson River at Perry Street.

1 Morton Square came a little later, a few blocks to the south, but it significantly reinforced the boom. Also handsome, it is a very interesting and complex full-block development that combines towers along West Street with low-rise buildings on the remainder of the block.

Designed by Costas Kondylis & Partners, it was erected in 2004 on a former United Parcel Service parking lot. Within a month on the market, over half the units were sold or under contract.

The $200 million development is bounded by West, Washington, Morton and Leroy Streets and is comprised of three buildings with a total of 283 apartments. There are six townhouses with bay windows, 147 lofts, some of which were delivered "finished," and a seven-story rental building with 135 apartments. The lofts and townhouses range in size from 1,160 to 4,000 square feet and were initially priced from around $1.1 million to well over $5 million.

The complex has a large, landscaped courtyard garden, doorman and concierge service, a health club, a playroom, central air-conditioning and heating, and a garage.

The location is convenient to the West Village, the meat-packing district and TriBeCa although it is not convenient to public transportation.

The project is similar in massing to the Superior Ink project further north along West Street but the building's differ stylistically.