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NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to live in the historic Gracie Mansion, vacating the affordable apartment that was a central issue during his election bid.

A Traditional Abode

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the official residence for the majority of New York City mayors from the World War II era.

However, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a key platform, hesitated to declare his residency plans right away after his victory in November.

"My choice came down to the security of my family and the imperative to focusing my full attention on implementing the agenda for affordability the city's residents elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement.

Leaving Astoria

He resided in the Astoria neighbourhood, a district renowned for its diverse immigrant populations and culinary diversity.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for demonstrating the best of New York City," he expressed.

"Even though I'm moving in the neighborhood, it will forever remain inside me and the work I do," he added.

A Contentious Issue

In his race for mayor, Mamdani connected his central policy – to freeze the rent – to his personal living arrangements.

Yet his rivals, mainly former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for living in the apartment although he hails from a prominent family.

Previous Exceptions

Not every mayor have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, chose to live in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side throughout his time in office, which ended in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg said he believed it should be a place for public city functions, and championed an extensive renovation of the older mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion near his inauguration on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment very different than his previous Astoria home.

Featuring pale yellow exterior, emerald shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house with views of the East River.

Internally, the first floor of the historically styled mansion is furnished to reflect the home's historical period.

The compound, which allegedly has five bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to protect the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

Some residents have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of former mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that they experienced doors opening and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter what people claim," he stated in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

Mamdani's current apartment is under rent control, a policy where the city imposes caps on how much landlords can increase rent each year.

Tenants consider these apartments crucial resources as the housing expenses rises faster than the average income.

Records showed Mamdani his rent was $2,300 each month for his apartment.

According to real estate analysts Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.