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The city's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to live in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from the affordable apartment that sparked debate in his campaign.

An Iconic Home

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the official residence for nearly all New York City mayors since the mid-20th century.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a core policy, did not confirm this decision immediately following his triumph in November.

"My choice was based on the security of my family and the need to dedicating my full attention on carrying out the affordability agenda New Yorkers voted for," stated Mamdani on Monday.

A Fond Farewell

Mamdani lived in the Astoria neighbourhood, a district renowned for its abundance of cultural enclaves and global cuisine.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: thank you for exemplifying the best of New York City," Mamdani's statement said.

"Even though I'm moving there, Astoria will forever remain a part of me and my work," he added.

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani tied his core platform – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.

Yet his critics, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the affordable housing despite the fact that he hails from a prominent family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not every mayor have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, kept his residence in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his tenure, which wrapped up in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg argued it ought to be a venue for official events, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the historic mansion.

A Grand New Home

As he settles into Gracie Mansion sometime around his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment very different than his humble Astoria digs.

Featuring butter yellow paint, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure with views of the East River.

Internally, the ground floor of the classically designed mansion is appointed in the spirit of the home's historical period.

The compound, which allegedly has several bedrooms, also includes increased security measures to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Ghostly Tales

Past occupants have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of former mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and closed by themselves, and the floorboards made strange noises.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "I don't care what anyone says," he stated in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

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

City residents see such units as essential protections as the price of rent rises faster than what many can afford.

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

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