Slidell officials have released a list of 115 houses that have been condemned by the City Council.

Most of these houses were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, have not been repaired and present a health and safety hazard to the community.

The condemned structures, which include two churches, are slated for demolition. But before the wrecking ball comes down, the owners of these houses still have a chance to save them through the St. Tammany Parish government. Slidell has turned over the list to the parish, and parish spokeswoman Suzanne Parsons-Stymiest said the houses will go through the parish's condemnation process before a final decision is made on demolition.

"Not all of these houses will hit the ground. We have incorporated them into our process," Parsons said. "But it is a 19-point process on condemnation, so it won't happen overnight."

She said currently, another 135 houses that have been condemned by Slidell are undergoing the parish's condemnation process.

Since the hurricane, the parish has had a lot of houses to consider. Parsons said parish officials have looked at 4,364 houses parishwide that were put on the condemnation list. They have whittled the list down to 465 structures that have been through the condemnation process. Of those, 143 have either been demolished or repaired, seven were denied condemnation, 190 houses are slated for demolition, and the parish is still trying to find the owners of 125 homes that have been condemned.

"We really don't want to tear houses down. We would rather see them repaired or remodeled," Parsons said.

Parsons said the parish is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get the funding for the demolitions.

"Hopefully, FEMA will pay for all the houses," Parsons said.

So far, 18 homes on Slidell's condemnation list are eligible for FEMA money for demolition.

To look at the list of condemned properties in Slidell, go to the City of Slidell Web site at www.slidell.la.us., and click on "news and announcements on the left hand side of the site. To find out the status of a condemned home in the parish, go to the St. Tammany Parish Government Web site at www.stpgov.org/online_blighted.php, and click on the list of blighted properties at the bottom of the page.

For more information on the Slidell condemnation process, call City Attorney Tim Mathison at 646-4396.