An Artistic Take on Historic Preservation

Came across an interesting example of historic preservation in yesterday's New York Times. This 195-year old home is one of the last family-owned properties in New York's Hudson River landmark district. The eclectic mansion, home to a mixed bag of artists, was deeded to owner Ricky Aldrich in the 1960s. Unable to afford the property on his own, Aldrich re-purposed the home into an artist co-op. To me, the Rokeby House highlights the importance of finding purposeful uses for historic spaces. Would this space be as intriguing if it were still a single-family home?