This book investigates the phenomenon of property owners who refuse to sell their land to developers, effectively halting large-scale urban construction projects in New York City. Andrew Alpern and Seymour B. Durst utilize their backgrounds in architecture and real estate to document the legal, financial, and social dynamics of these standoffs. The authors present a historical framework that examines the tension between individual property rights and the pressures of urban development.

Experts and urban historians frequently cite this work as a specialized reference for understanding the complexities of New York City's development history. Readers often note the detailed documentation of specific cases, which provides a clear look at the intersection of private ownership and municipal growth.