City on the Edge: Buffalo, New York, 1900 - present

In a sweeping narrative that speaks to the serious student of urban studies as well as the general reader, Mark Goldman tells the story of twentieth-century Buffalo, New York. Goldman covers all of the major developments:

The rise and decline of the citys downtown and ethnic neighborhoods
The impact of racial change and suburbanization
The role and function of the arts in the life of the community
Urban politics, urban design, and city planning

While describing the changes that so drastically altered the form, function, and character of the city, Goldman, through detailed descriptions of special people and special places, gives a sense of intimacy and immediacy to these otherwise impersonal historical forces. City on the Edge unflinchingly documents and describes how Buffalo has been battered by the tides of history. But it also describes the unique characteristics that have encouraged an innovative cultural climate, including Buffalos dynamic survival instinct that continues to lead to a surprisingly and inspiringly high quality of community life. Finally, it offers a road map, whichif followedcould point the way to a new and exciting future for this long-troubled city.