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The housing code was rewritten last year, and that section was struck because it duplicates the construction code. However, I think this building was built (right behind DCRA's offices) before last May, in which case the code says:
"Each habitable room shall have a glass area transmitting natural light equivalent to that which would be transmitted by a clear glass area at least equal to one tenth (1/10) of the floor area served"
The bedrooms in question have a clear glass area within the walls to the other rooms, which seems like it'd cover 10% of the floor area.
It's probably been the subject of litigation but I'd question where a window into another room meets the requirement for "natural light." Note that 14-502 contains no notice that it is superseded.
Seems like the alternatives are either: build the bedrooms by the windows and then have windowless living rooms or just build less new units in the city.
I though these windowless bedrooms were ok if they: 1) were "Jr. 1-bed rooms" or 2) had interior glass windows. Is it possible these new buildings could technically soon be "illegal" going forward in the District? I hope not.
I don't care for the interior windows, but lots of people seem fine with them. (Why not let people decide, since this isn't really a true health and safety issue anyway)?
In the past year, DC has rejected any plans to increase the height limit, downzoned vast areas of the city to prevent rowhouse to apartment conversions, so I really hope this doesn't get added to the list.
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