Can be done, but requires some serious futzing with files.
Easier (and faster) to just use an empty template of Strangetown (along with the mods suggested at the link to keep NPCs, townies, etc. from spawning, if you wish). See here for some empty template 'hoods:
http://kandbdesigns.vndv.com/html/hoods001.htmlSee the readme file accompanying the 'hood download for how-to info.
Just in case, at the bottom of the page linked, there are clean (rather than empty) versions, which include Maxis already-live-in-'hood families but empty of all other characters.