AT a glance, Maple Heights, just outside Cleveland, Ohio, is like many old suburban areas in the mid-American industrial region. There are rows of colonial style houses built after the Second World War, roads with shady trees and-of course-lawn mowers in the gardens. However, when seen from close up, this city appears to be dying.

One of every 12 houses in this city has already been left empty by the occupants because they are no longer able to pa