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NYC's next chief executive, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the affordable apartment that was a central issue in his campaign.

A Traditional Abode

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the primary dwelling for the majority of New York City mayors after the World War II era.

But, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central policy, was not quick to announce his residency plans immediately after his electoral win in November.

"This decision came down to the security of my family and the need to focusing my complete efforts on carrying out the affordability agenda New Yorkers elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

Mamdani lived in Astoria, Queens, a district known for its abundance of cultural enclaves and global cuisine.

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

"While I may no longer live in Astoria, the community will continue to reside inside me and my efforts as mayor," he affirmed.

Political Debate

Throughout his race for mayor, Mamdani tied his core platform – halting rent increases – to his own housing situation.

Yet his opponents, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the rent-stabilized unit although he came from a prominent family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Some mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, preferred to remain in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his time in office, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg said he believed it should be a place for public city functions, and advocated for an extensive renovation of the older mansion.

A Stately Residence

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion near his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in surroundings very different than his previous Astoria home.

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

Within, the lower floor of the Federal-style mansion is appointed to reflect the home's original era.

The compound, which allegedly has several bedrooms, also includes fortified protections to secure the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

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

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors would sometimes open and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "I don't care what people claim," he stated in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

The apartment he is leaving is rent stabilised, which means the city sets limits on how much property owners can increase rent each year.

Tenants see such units as crucial resources as the housing expenses exceeds the average income.

Records showed Mamdani his rent was $2,300 each month for his apartment.

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