The city of Pittsburgh's Bureau of Building Inspection today cleared one of two Oakland buildings that had been ordered vacated for reoccupation effective Monday.

The 12-unit 331 McKee Place, ordered emptied May 14, is now safe, said Acting Chief of Building Inspection Daniel Cipriani. It is owned by Elrod Investments, one of several Dormont-based real estate companies headed by Jason Cohen.

"There was a lot to be done, and he jumped on it," said Mr. Cipriani. Senior Building Inspector Robert McPherson has "been surprised at the progress he's made on it," Mr. Cipriani added.

"I think we've accomplished what we wanted, which is to improve life safety and get Mr. Cohen's attention," Mr. Cipriani said. The bureau initially cited the property for safety violations in 2006.

Mr. Cohen declined comment.

A 42-unit apartment building owned by Mr. Cohen's JLB Property Group at 3408 Parkview Ave. has also been improved since the city launched a series of inspections in May, Mr. Cipriani said. "He's been upgrading that all along."

District Judge Gene Ricciardi fined JLB $200,000 for violations at that address, and the company has appealed that decision.

By contrast, 337 McKee Place, owned by Hosny Sayed Abdel Latif and ordered emptied in May, has not been cleared of violations.

"They've made no efforts to address the citations, so it is staying vacated," said Mr. Cipriani, adding that it appears that a change in management of the building may be in the works.

The bureau is considering a code enforcement sweep through Oakland before students return to the neighborhood's universities in August. It is also inviting students to use a new Web function at http://forms.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/dwell/process.aspx to check that they are moving into apartments that have valid occupancy permits.