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New York City's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to make his home in the historic Gracie Mansion, departing from his rent-controlled apartment that was a central issue in his election bid.

An Iconic Home

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the mayoral home for most New York City mayors from the mid-20th century.

However, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a core issue, hesitated to declare this decision immediately after his electoral win in November.

"The choice was based on keeping my family safe and the importance of focusing my full attention on enacting the platform on affordability voters elected me on," stated Mamdani in his announcement.

Leaving Astoria

Mamdani lived in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area known for its diverse immigrant populations and global cuisine.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: my gratitude for showing us the best of New York City," Mamdani's statement said.

"While I may no longer live there, the community will forever remain a part of me and my work," he said.

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani linked his key pledge – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.

But his opponents, mainly former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for living in the apartment despite the fact that he is from a famous family.

A House Not Always Used

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, kept his residence in his private home on Manhattan's Upper East Side throughout his time in office, which wrapped up in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg felt it ought to be a place for civic gatherings, and pushed for significant upgrades of the aging mansion.

A Stately Residence

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

With its butter yellow paint, emerald shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home overlooking the East River.

Within, the first floor of the classically designed mansion is furnished in the spirit of the home's historical period.

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

Supernatural Speculation

Some residents have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors occasionally opened and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards made strange noises.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "I don't care what people claim," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

His former home is under rent control, meaning the city sets limits on how much property owners can raise the rent each year.

City residents consider these apartments valuable lifelines as the price of rent rises faster than the average income.

Records showed Mamdani his rent was $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.