With no comps in the area for new construction and the highest rehab selling for 205k, building enough at the onset, 4-6 new construction homes, may be the only way to start a neighborhood turn.The city is looking to increase density in the area and add anchor points in near the area to cater to future investment. 

Filling them in not an issue but I'm seeing some renters are using anchors.

It's shifting to a model of a big anchor, a Target or a Costco, and lots of little businesses in that same shopping center. 

The local economy is anchored by institutions such as the University of New Mexico (UNM), Sandia National Laboratories, and Kirtland Air Force Base.

But I’ve found that a well-chosen angle or a unique architectural detail can give guests a mental anchor point.. something that says, “Yes, this is a real place with character.”

We anchored the top of the machine to the wall to prevent it from tipping over.

The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri.

Also the Adelson family of Las Vegas Sands fame have purchased a couple of big parcels with hopes to build a giant casino/convention resort perhaps anchored by the arena for the Mavericks for which they also just purchased majority ownership from Mark Cuban. 

Two groups that I will consider investing with again are Colony Hills Capital for multi family and FNRP, which specializes in grocery and big box store anchored retail spaces.  

Drivable to the Bay Area, much lower property taxes (that DON'T reassess on the sale), much friendlier tenant/landlord laws, strong population and job growth, strong appreciation, and also anchored by the tourism and wealth of Lake Tahoe.