They are bad because the neighborhood is empty. The free-market, in many locations, is inflating property prices beyond their value as housing/offices/storefron

They are bad because the neighborhood is empty. The free-market, in many locations, is inflating property prices beyond their value as housing/offices/storefronts, because they are being used to absorb capital "value". Imagine if everybody decided to use food as a store of financial value. You're going to learn that the only reason your bread cost $50 is because some oversea investor will pay for it. He won't sell it you, because he knows in a few months the prices will go up. It would suck if you wanted to eat something.