An unfinished church building, which has been in an incomplete state of construction for years, has residents in North Amityville concerned. The sign out front of the half-built Church of Living Waters on Albany Avenue reads "coming soon." But it has been there for more than ten years, according to a resident and civic leader who is now demanding that something be done to either get the building completed or take the unfinished structure down.

"It's a quality of life issue, besides the fact that it's an eye-sore that looks terrible," said Noel Campbell, president of the Russell Court Civic Association who has lived in the area for 48 years. "I have counted at least 50 churches in the North Amityville, Copiague area... who needs that many?" Campbell says he is constantly asked by residents about the property that sits between residences at 323 and 347 Albany Avenue. His civic assiciation represents about 25 families.

"They ask me when it will be tore down or built, but I don't know," he said.

At a recent Town Board meeting Campbell asked that question of TownSupervisor Steve Bellone who responded that the Town would look into it but was responsible to be very careful since it was dealing with a religious organization.

"The town supervisor told me that there may be a legal problem but that doesn't matter to us, we are the ones who have to live with that monstrosity," said Campbell.

The North Amityville Taxpayer Association agrees.

"It negatively affects our quality of life in the community," said Jacquelyn McCullough, executive director, who estimates the building has been in-flux for 15 years.

The building, partly constructed from white building blocks, has its roof and bare beams open to the elements. Rusted tools and wire litter the property as if construction workers just left for lunch, never to return.

According to the Town of Babylon, one of the problems is that the contractor was paid $50,000 for this job and stole the church's money.

"We have tried to work with the church for many years but the problem is that most churches in general are very poorly funded," said Peter Casserly, Commissioner of Planning for the Town, who added there have been many owners at this site.

Campbell says he prefers to see the church be ripped down rather than completed because there are too many churches in the neighborhood, including one about 50-yards away and across the street from the proposed Church of the Living Waters.

"There should be some kind of law in the Town against too many churches." He added, however, that in his community churches are considered very important.

"Too much of anything isn't good," he explained saying he'd prefer upscale housing to be built to encourage a neighborhood revitalization.

"About two years ago they tried to beautify it by cutting the grass and painting the rusted, exposed beams. It needs to be taken down," said McCullough who is also waiting for the Town to act on the residents' requests.

The Town agrees with the civic leaders that the construction has gone on for too long.

"We gave summonses in the past and they clean up but now I think time has run out," said Casserly who said the next step is to demolish the building.

As for being too many churches in the area, there is little the Town can do to limit them since that issue falls under the category of freedom of religion. However, the Town is providing some oversight where it can.

"Going ahead, we have been making sure congregations have funding before they start building their churches," said Casserly. Campbell, a Russell Court resident, prides himself on how beautiful his block looks and wishes the surrounding neighborhood would take note.

"The Albany Avenue strip from Sunrise Highway to Great Neck Road is just embarrassing," he said adding that although surrounding civic associations are concerned, no one has done anything.

"If we just all worked together, maybe we could get this area cleaned up. The first thing people see when they drive into the area are drunken bums hanging outside the deli and barbershop, that church and rusted cars on front lawns. I wish they'd take pride in our neighborhood," he said.

The Church of Living Water's owner (according to the sign) Reverend Howard C. Brigham (who also runs The Bible Institute in Amityville and another Church of Living Waters in Dallas, Texas according to a web search) was not available for comment.