Where did all the people go?

I live in a modest size town 14,513 people. I am astounded at the new buildings that are appearing in all corners of the city. I am just as disguisted with the empty buildings in every corner of the city. What I want to know is when these projects change residential areas into more empty buildings where do all those misplaced people go. It certainly is not in the new $200,000 condo down the street. What about recycling our buildings? It would give us more open space that people want.