Property owners (residential not commercial) basically don't keep empty units vacant on purpose. There's no good evidence that they do, it's just a brain-worm conspiracy meme.
x.com/i/status/146...
And since I know some of you won't click on that link, see the attached image.
Jurff T_T
"The property owners who hold vacant space hostage would rather use it as a tax write-off than provide stable homes for the community. If the private sector can’t or refuses to accomplish this, then maybe the public sector ought to take action.”
- Christian Heller, MPLS resident