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New York City's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the traditional Gracie Mansion, leaving behind his rent-controlled apartment that became a focal point in his campaign.

A Historic Residence

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors since the World War II era.

However, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central platform, hesitated to declare this decision right away following his victory in November.

"This decision came down to the security of my family and the need to focusing my complete efforts on enacting the affordability agenda New Yorkers elected me on," Mamdani said in a statement.

Leaving Astoria

He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, a community known for its vibrant immigrant communities and culinary diversity.

"To Astoria: many thanks for exemplifying the best of New York City," he noted.

"Even though I'm moving in Astoria, the community will always live within me and my work," he added.

Campaign Controversy

Throughout his election campaign, Mamdani linked his key pledge – halting rent increases – to his own housing situation.

However his opponents, mainly former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the affordable housing although he hails from a well-known family.

Previous Exceptions

Not all mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, preferred to remain in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side for his three terms, which wrapped up in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg said he believed it should be a venue for public city functions, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Grand New Home

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion near his swearing-in on 1 January, he will experience an environment a stark contrast to his humble Astoria digs.

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

Internally, the first floor of the Federal-style mansion is appointed in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.

The compound, which is said to has five bedrooms, also has increased security measures to secure the mayor and his family.

Supernatural Speculation

Past occupants have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of former mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors occasionally opened and shutting on their own, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "I don't care what anyone says," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

The apartment he is leaving is rent stabilised, meaning the city imposes caps on how much property owners can increase rent each year.

City residents see such units as crucial resources as the cost of housing exceeds what many can afford.

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

Based on data from the real estate platform Zillow, the average rent for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.