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The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to take up residence in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from the affordable apartment that sparked debate in his election bid.

A Historic Residence

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for the majority of New York City mayors from the mid-20th century.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central issue, was not quick to announce he would live there promptly following his victory in November.

"The choice came down to our family's safety and the importance of directing all of my focus on carrying out the agenda for affordability voters voted for," Mamdani said in his announcement.

Leaving Astoria

His home was in the Queens borough of Astoria, a community famous for its vibrant immigrant communities and international dining.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for demonstrating the true spirit of New York City," he noted.

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

Campaign Controversy

In his election campaign, Mamdani linked his central policy – halting rent increases – to his circumstances as a tenant.

But his rivals, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for remaining in the rent-stabilized unit although he hails from a well-known family.

A House Not Always Used

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, preferred to remain in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his tenure, which ended in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg felt it ought to be a venue for public city functions, and pushed for a major refurbishment of the aging mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

As he settles into Gracie Mansion for his inauguration on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment a stark contrast to his modest Astoria apartment.

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

Internally, the ground floor of the Federal-style mansion is decorated to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.

The estate, which reportedly has several bedrooms, also includes fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

A number of people have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of former mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors occasionally opened and closed by themselves, and the floorboards made strange noises.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "I don't care the skeptics say," he stated in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilized, a policy where the city imposes caps on how much building managers can raise the rent each year.

New Yorkers consider these apartments crucial resources as the price of rent outpaces what many can afford.

Data indicated Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment.

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