These houses remind me of those two abandoned houses in Kitchener that CAFKA turned into public art installations for a little while before being torn down for (I think) condos.
I always thought it was a fun idea. Not that I mind the dilapidation or decrepit-ness, but I get why most people wouldn't enjoy seeing that every morning on their walk to work or school.
Sometimes you'll see houses torn down YEARS before the development on that property starts - which is kind of depressing - but this kind of idea helps prevents the need to do that.