BATON ROUGE - Along North Boulevard in Baton Rouge, there is a block with several large empty buildings that have remained vacant for years. 

"You think they want to live across the street from this thing?"

Byron Grant's family home stands just a few feet away from the 1900 block of North Boulevard.

"It's just horrendous," he said.

Signs of what the buildings once were remain. They include Gilbert's Funeral Home, Emanuel Baptist Church and Louisiana New School Academy. The Harmony Center owns the entire block, except for two homes on America Street. Records show that Collis Temple leads the Harmony Center and purchased the properties in 1997. 

"It hasn't had any action or any type of commerce since then," said Grant. 

The Louisiana New School Academy still has an active website.

Signs of life are visible around the property. Graffiti can be seen from the second story windows, articles of clothing left behind, trash bags full of garbage, a box fan in a window, and what appears to be a fresh water bottle at the top of the stairs. Temple, who owns dozens of properties in Baton Rouge, chatted with 2 On Your Side in February. Then, he said his priority was tending to the larger properties he owns.

"Looks like a big property to me," said Grant.

Temple did not respond to a phone call inquiring about plans for this particular location. 

"I have no idea why he has the property, but as far as any intentions on doing anything, no, it would have been done a long time ago," said Grant.

The city inspected the property in July following a complaint, but city officials say the property is not a high priority at this time. A chain-link fence surrounding the rear of the old school has been cut to create an opening leading to back stairs and doorways. 

"Someone could easily just be going in that door and living in there," Grant said.

Grant insists it should be a priority. Several years ago, Grant recalls a bat infestation inside the building closest to his family home. He says that situation was addressed, but windows and other spaces remain open for critters to make a home.