I'm sorry to hear about the changes. When we were moved out of C-on-M in 1972, we moved to Fallowfield, Finchley Road, just off Yew Tree Lane. It was quite posh back then, the houses had gardens and inside toilets, baths, and running hot water.....luxury!
As I haven't lived in Manchester for over thirty years, I'm unqualified to comment on the rise and fall of any particular part of the city, but it seems to me that everywhere goes through changes over time. Because the changes are generational, it's hard on those who live through the downturns to see anything but decay...