How about the 1916 zoning resolution - that created more regulation than
preservation.  I agree, there was a lot a scary stuff built in mid-century -
that's certainly one reason I'm a preservationist.  I think that architecture
criticism has not recovered from that period and only loves standout,
no-context buildings. Everything else - like Polshek's 1980's contextual 6s
apartment building on Sixth Avenue in the Village - doesn't really count.
NYC is built up Herbert, live with it.

Mary Dierickx, NYC