Not really. I lived in the US for nearly three decades and I've been to most states and I can say you'd be hard pressed to find a city that didn't have dilapid

Not really. I lived in the US for nearly three decades and I've been to most states and I can say you'd be hard pressed to find a city that didn't have dilapidated looking parts. I think it's the nature of it. When a business moves out they just leave the place as it is and it's up to the next renter to make their business look nice. In every place I've been in Europe that is reversed: putting the place back how you found it is the responsibility of the renter. That alone accounts for a big "ghost town" look when towns are going through hard times.