Why are there so many empty, run downed, or undeveloped lots/units/living areas adjacent to Downtown? What can be done to change that?

The fact that there’s so much of it, specifically south and east of downtown, really disappoints me. It’s proximity to downtown and being in the center of Houston means it should be one of the most urban atmospheres of the entire metropolitan area, and yet in some places, it looks like a distant country suburb. I know some development has taken place but there’s still so much work to be done. These areas bring down Houston’s population density, and overall cultural potential.

Edit: I’m not sure why I keep getting downvoted but whatever. I’m not even saying controversial things. I’m probably getting downvoted by a bunch of people who aren’t even from HTX. But newflash: I was born and raised here and care about my city, and urban planning is my passion so this is something I want to learn more about.