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The city's next chief executive, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to live in the historic Gracie Mansion, vacating the affordable apartment that was a central issue throughout his election bid.

A Historic Residence

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the official residence for nearly all New York City mayors after the post-war period.

However, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central issue, did not confirm this decision promptly following his victory in November.

"My choice rested on the security of my family and the need to dedicating all of my focus on carrying out the agenda for affordability the city's residents supported," stated Mamdani on Monday.

Leaving Astoria

Mamdani lived in Astoria, Queens, an area known for its abundance of immigrant communities and international dining.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: thank you for showing us the true spirit of New York City," he expressed.

"Although my address will change in Astoria, it will always live inside me and the work I do," he said.

A Contentious Issue

In his race for mayor, Mamdani connected his core platform – a rent freeze – to his own housing situation.

However his opponents, including one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for remaining in the apartment despite the fact that he came from a well-known family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not all mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, chose to live in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his tenure, which wrapped up in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg said he believed it should be a space for civic gatherings, and advocated for an extensive renovation of the older mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

As he settles into Gracie Mansion sometime around his first day on 1 January, he will experience surroundings far removed from his previous Astoria digs.

Featuring cream-colored walls, forest green window covers, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure overlooking the East River.

Within, the first floor of the classically designed mansion is decorated to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.

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

Supernatural Speculation

Past occupants have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

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

The departing mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "I don't care what anyone says," he insisted in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

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

City residents see such units as valuable lifelines as the housing expenses outpaces 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 average rent for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.