Margot Wellington became involved in preservation in the 1950s through her work with the Downtown Brooklyn Development Association. They were working to preserve the walkability and department stores of Downtown Brooklyn. From there she started documenting the brownstones in Boerum Hill in an attempt to save them from developers. Over the course of her long career, she was involved the fight to save Grand Central Terminal, the Broadway Theaters, and to landmark the Upper East Side. Notably, while working for the Municipal Art Society, she helped to found and run the Urban Center. She speaks about the need for old buildings to foster creativity, allowing small businesses and artists to flourish, as well as how important it is to preserve the affordability in the city.