In the 19th and 20th centuries, New York emerged as a world capital of commerce and culture, quickly expanding in its height and breadth. The city became a behemoth of urban infrastructure and in many locales a dense conglomeration of tall buildings. Lovely two-story residential neighborhoods were followed by 4-story enclaves, 12-, 20-, 40-story clusters. Commercial and industrial zones were handsomely built and rebuilt. Precincts of office buildings reached up to the clouds. In 1965, a comprehensive Landmarks Law was instituted. Currently (in 2019) about 36,000 properties are designated including 1,400 individual landmarks, and 34,500 buildings in 141 historic districts. In terms of the value of the real estate it regulates, the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission is the most powerful preservation commission in the world—every decision adjudicated in open public hearings where anyone can have their say for about 2 minutes.