Lighting

No, you MUST have emergency lighting. I lived in a building that had to upgrade the emergency lighting because it wasn't to code. This was after a fire department inspection.

Are you 100% positive that ALL residential buildings need to upgrade?

The grandfathering rules for building code are not clear at all, but it is at least plausible that this building is not in violation.
Here is the an ECB violation appeal about this very topic.
http://archive.citylaw.org/ecb/Long%20Form%20Orders/2012/1200780.pdf

It appears that the building was initially issued a violation for not having proper emergency lighting, but in the appeal it was found to not be subject to the requirement, having been grandathered in under an earlier building code.
FYI - the building in question here is 506 Amsterdam Ave

Somehow the link did go through correctly. The spaces in the middle must be replaced by percent signs.

Ask about the emergency lighting before you make your offer. I had a friend recuperating from surgery when Hurricane Sandy knocked out the power in her building. She had to walk down 23 flights of stairs with a flash light. It took her over an hour.

What kind of man not only has a cat, but considers that ownership of a cat his single most defining characteristic?