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The city's next chief executive, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to take up residence in the traditional Gracie Mansion, vacating the rent-stabilised apartment that sparked debate in his run for office.

A Historic Residence

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the official residence for nearly all New York City mayors since the post-war period.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central platform, hesitated to declare he would live there right away following his triumph in November.

"The choice was based on our family's safety and the need to dedicating my complete efforts on enacting the agenda for affordability voters supported," stated Mamdani in his announcement.

A Fond Farewell

Mamdani lived in Astoria, Queens, a community famous for its diverse cultural enclaves and international dining.

"To Astoria: thank you for demonstrating what is great about New York City," Mamdani's statement said.

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

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his election campaign, Mamdani connected his core platform – a rent freeze – to his own housing situation.

However his rivals, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for occupying the rent-stabilized unit despite the fact that he hails from a well-known family.

Previous Exceptions

Not every mayor have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, preferred to remain in his personal mansion on the Upper East Side throughout his three terms, which ended in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg said he believed it could serve as a venue for public city functions, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the historic mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion sometime around his swearing-in on 1 January, he will be surrounded by a setting very different than his previous Astoria apartment.

Adorned in pale yellow exterior, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure with views of the East River.

Inside, the first floor of the Federal-style mansion is appointed consistent with the home's historical period.

The estate, which is said to has several bedrooms, also boasts increased security measures to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Supernatural Speculation

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

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of former mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors would sometimes open and closing inexplicably, and the floors emitted odd sounds.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "It doesn't matter the skeptics say," he insisted in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

Mamdani's current apartment is under rent control, which means the city sets limits on how much landlords can increase rent each year.

City residents consider these apartments crucial resources as the housing expenses outpaces what many can afford.

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

Based on data from real estate analysts Zillow, the median rent for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.