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The city's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to live in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from his rent-controlled apartment that sparked debate during his election bid.

A Traditional Abode

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the official residence for the majority of New York City mayors from the World War II era.

However, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a core issue, was not quick to announce he would live there immediately following his victory in November.

"The choice was based on our family's safety and the need to dedicating my complete efforts on implementing the platform on affordability the city's residents supported," the Mayor-Elect declared in a statement.

Leaving Astoria

Mamdani lived in the Astoria neighbourhood, a district renowned for its diverse immigrant populations and global cuisine.

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

"While I may no longer live there, it will continue to reside within me and my efforts as mayor," he said.

A Contentious Issue

During his campaign, Mamdani connected his core platform – halting rent increases – to his personal living arrangements.

However his rivals, most notably former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the affordable housing although he came from a prominent family.

Previous Exceptions

Not all mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, chose to live in his private home on the Upper East Side during his three terms, which wrapped up in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg argued it should be a venue for official events, and advocated for an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

As he settles into Gracie Mansion near his first day on 1 January, he will be surrounded by an environment very different than his humble Astoria apartment.

With its cream-colored walls, forest green window covers, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River.

Internally, the ground floor of the historically styled mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's original era.

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

Ghostly Tales

A number of people have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors occasionally opened and closed by themselves, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "I don't care what anyone says," he insisted in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

His former home is rent stabilised, a policy where the city sets limits on how much landlords can increase rent each year.

City residents view rent-stabilized housing as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing outpaces the average income.

Records showed Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment.

According to the real estate platform Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.