The area is in a desperate state because it like the ground has suffered from lack of investment and left to rot , it not a forgone conclusion its has to end that way , plenty of run down area's around the country have come come back to life , Salford, east end London, Edinburgh docks ect it just needs a bit of a will to do that , something that hasnt been done by anybody by local/national government for decades.
Maybe are ground could be used as a driver to help with this.
The housing stock is getting bought up for buy to let and has been for ages , meaning the community is in constant transit , and sadly a decline in the community spirit to fight back.