Silver Tower, that unfortunate-looking complex South of Bobst, has officially been landmarked, making NYU’s desire to add a fourth building to the complex pretty difficult to accomplish.

Neighborhood preservationists have been arguing for the landmarking of the eyesore, designed by I.M. Pei, since 2005. “Landmarking Silver Towers not only helps preserve an eminently livable place and honors a great work of architecture, but it also acknowledges the importance of our city’s past efforts to create affordable housing,” said Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation Executive Director Andrew Berman to Crains.

The icky thing about buildings that are “eminently livable” is that they also tend to be ass-ugly. But hell, let’s preserve Silver Tower’s low cost look even if affordable living in the East Village is no more than a pleasant dream at this point.

It’s the thought that counts, right?