The gentrification of the East Village might be overshadowing its Beatnik, bohemian roots, but, at least after today, one building's escaped any potential transformation into a new hot spot for young professional hipsters. In a move sure to preserve a bit of the area's original identity, one of EV's oldest buildings just attained landmark status.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission announced today their unanimous decision to landmark the Isaac T. Hopper house reports EV Grieve. Located at 110 2nd Ave., the house is over 170 years old and dates back to the earliest era of East Village urbanization. Hopper, a Quaker abolitionist, founded the Women's Prison Association, an organization dedicated to bettering the lives of women who come through the criminal justice system, and, since 1874, the house has served as the WPA headquarters.
