September 12

Until September 11, Battery Park City had been a secluded, wealthy enclave just west of Wall Street in downtown Manhattan, one with all the opulence of the surrounding corporate headquarters yet with a gated, suburban feel. After the towers fell it became the most visible neighbourhood in New York. Suddenly everyone had an opinion about what should be rebuilt there. The dramatic changes in their surroundings forced Battery Park City residents to step into the spotlight and fight to control their exclusive enclave. Smithsimon's look at an elite planned community near the heart of New York City's financial district examines both the struggles and shortcomings of one of the city's wealthiest neighbourhoods. --from publisher description.