The dilapidation of neighborhoods around St. Augustine, the church whose slow destruction I wrote about in June, also helps to create a feeling of hopelessness in the surrounding streets. Just south of the church, these two houses above are remnants of what had been at least a half dozen identical mates. They fell one by one, due to brick theft. The yards where they lurk are nearby. They’re always burning garbage and other junk, sitting around staring at passersby. Below, these two Italianate houses sit trashed and vacant. They would make perfect starter houses, or low-income houses, as they were originally intended. But they will probably be demolished soon.