Complex sentence: Due to the impacts of negligent ownership and age of the buildings decay set in, starting in 1996, a major voter approved project was started to renew the "unsightly" district to be a catalyst for cultural and economic growth.
Split into simpler sentences: Due to the impacts of negligent ownership and the age of the buildings, decay soon set in. Starting in 1996, a major voter approved project was started to renew the "unsightly" district to be a catalyst for cultural and economic growth.