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The city's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to take up residence in the historic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the rent-stabilised apartment that sparked debate in his run for office.

An Iconic Home

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the primary dwelling for the majority of New York City mayors since the World War II era.

But, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a core policy, hesitated to declare this decision promptly after his triumph in November.

"My choice rested on the security of my family and the imperative to directing my full attention on enacting the affordability agenda voters supported," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, a district known for its diverse cultural enclaves and culinary diversity.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: my gratitude for showing us the best of New York City," he expressed.

"Although my address will change there, it will continue to reside inside me and my work," he said.

Campaign Controversy

In his race for mayor, Mamdani linked his key pledge – a rent freeze – to his personal living arrangements.

Yet his rivals, including one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged 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 business magnate, kept his residence in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his time in office, which concluded in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a place for official events, and championed an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Stately Residence

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion sometime around his first day on 1 January, he will experience a setting very different than his previous Astoria home.

With its pale yellow exterior, emerald shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure situated by the East River.

Within, the ground floor of the Federal-style mansion is appointed in the spirit of the home's historical period.

The compound, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also has 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 spouse of former mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors occasionally opened and closed by themselves, and the floors emitted odd sounds.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "It doesn't matter what people claim," he insisted in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilized, meaning the city imposes caps on how much building managers can hike the monthly cost each year.

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

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

Based on data from the real estate platform Zillow, the median rent for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.