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NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to live in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from the rent-stabilised apartment that sparked debate in his election bid.

A Traditional Abode

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for most New York City mayors after the post-war period.

However, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a core platform, did not confirm his residency plans right away after his electoral win in November.

"The choice was based on keeping my family safe and the need to focusing my full attention on implementing the agenda for affordability New Yorkers elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement.

Leaving Astoria

He resided in the Astoria neighbourhood, a district known for its diverse immigrant populations and global cuisine.

"To Astoria: thank you for exemplifying the true spirit of New York City," he expressed.

"While I may no longer live in Astoria, it will forever remain inside me and my work," he affirmed.

A Contentious Issue

During his campaign, Mamdani tied his core platform – halting rent increases – to his circumstances as a tenant.

Yet his rivals, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for living in the rent-stabilized unit although he is from a prominent family.

Previous Exceptions

Some mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, chose to live in his personal mansion on the Upper East Side throughout his tenure, which concluded in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg argued it should be a venue for official events, and advocated for significant upgrades of the historic mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion for his inauguration on 1 January, he will be surrounded by an environment very different than his previous Astoria apartment.

Adorned in butter yellow paint, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River.

Inside, the lower floor of the Federal-style mansion is decorated consistent with the home's early 19th-century origins.

The compound, which is said to has several bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

Some residents have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that they experienced doors opening and closed by themselves, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

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

The Value of Rent Stabilization

The apartment he is leaving is rent-stabilized, a policy where the city regulates on how much property owners can increase rent each year.

Tenants consider these apartments valuable lifelines as the cost of housing rises faster than the means of many residents.

It was reported Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment.

According to the property website Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.