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New York City's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, departing from the affordable apartment that became a focal point in his election bid.

An Iconic Home

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors after the post-war period.

However, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central platform, did not confirm his residency plans right away following his victory in November.

"My choice was based on our family's safety and the need to focusing all of my focus on enacting the agenda for affordability the city's residents voted for," the Mayor-Elect declared on Monday.

Thanking a Neighborhood

He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area known for its diverse cultural enclaves and global cuisine.

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

"Although my address will change there, it will forever remain within me and my efforts as mayor," he affirmed.

A Contentious Issue

In his election campaign, Mamdani connected his core platform – to freeze the rent – to his personal living arrangements.

But his critics, mainly ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for living in the affordable housing although he is from a well-known family.

Previous Exceptions

Some mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, preferred to remain in his private home on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his three terms, which wrapped up in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg felt it ought to be a venue for official events, and pushed for significant upgrades of the older mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

As he settles into Gracie Mansion sometime around his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in surroundings a stark contrast to his humble Astoria apartment.

Featuring cream-colored walls, emerald shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home situated by the East River.

Internally, the ground floor of the classically designed mansion is furnished to reflect the home's original era.

The property, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Supernatural Speculation

Some residents have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors occasionally opened and closed by themselves, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter the skeptics say," he declared in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

The apartment he is leaving is rent stabilised, meaning the city imposes caps on how much building managers can hike the monthly cost each year.

City residents see such units as valuable lifelines as the price of rent 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 median rent for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.