Tenants can return Monday to an Oakland apartment building that the city of Pittsburgh declared unsafe in May, marking a symbolic win in the effort to improve conditions in the student-dominated neighborhood.

Neighborhood leaders yesterday said the job's not done.

"There are still plenty of properties out there that need some attention from the city, but I think we're off to a pretty good start," said Nathan Hart, president of the Oakland Community Council.

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, a Dormont-based real estate company headed by Jason Cohen.

"There was a lot to be done, and he jumped on it," said Mr. Cipriani.

This week District Judge Gene Ricciardi recognized Mr. Cohen's efforts and didn't fine him for violations at the property, since most have been fixed.

Another troubled building, the 42-unit 3408 Parkview Ave., is also on the mend. Owned by Mr. Cohen's JLB Property Group, it was assigned its own fire truck by the city in May, and its owner fined $200,000 by Judge Ricciardi for persistent fire code violations and other safety shortcomings.

Mr. Cohen, who has appealed the fine, declined to comment.

"He's been upgrading that all along," said Mr. Cipriani. "I think we've accomplished what we wanted, which is to improve life safety and get Mr. Cohen's attention."

By contrast, 337 McKee Place, owned by Hosny Sayed Abdel Latif and ordered emptied in May, has not been cleared for reoccupation, said Mr. Cipriani. Safety violations remain.

Laura Rosato, an Oakland resident who tracks the progress of code violations, said that even with increased city attention, many reported problems linger.

"I can't say I see any difference down here," she said, listing problem properties on Pier Street, South Bouquet Street and Oakland Avenue. "We keep turning things in, and where is the road block? Why aren't they getting to Ricciardi?"

Mr. Hart said there's reason for the city to continue pounding problem properties in Oakland. Students decide whether to stay in Pittsburgh based on their experience in Oakland, he said.

"If their impression is that nobody cares, that the system is corrupt, that landlords are able to do whatever they want and that the area is just a run-down place, then they're not going to want to stay here," he said.

The Bureau of Building Inspection is considering a code enforcement sweep through Oakland before students return to the universities in August. It is also inviting students to visit www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/BBI/ to check that the apartments they are moving into have valid occupancy permits.