NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to take up residence in the historic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the rent-stabilised apartment that was a central issue throughout his campaign.
Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the official residence for nearly all New York City mayors from the mid-20th century.
Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central platform, hesitated to declare his residency plans right away after his triumph in November.
"The choice rested on keeping my family safe and the importance of dedicating my full attention on carrying out the platform on affordability voters voted for," the Mayor-Elect declared on Monday.
Mamdani lived in the Astoria neighbourhood, a district known for its diverse immigrant populations and international dining.
"To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for exemplifying the best of New York City," he expressed.
"While I may no longer live in the neighborhood, Astoria will always live within me and the work I do," he said.
Throughout his campaign, Mamdani tied his key pledge – to freeze the rent – to his personal living arrangements.
However his opponents, mainly former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for remaining in the rent-stabilized unit despite the fact that he is from a famous family.
Not all mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.
Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, preferred to remain in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his tenure, which wrapped up in 2012.
Instead, Bloomberg felt it could serve as a place for public city functions, and advocated for a major refurbishment of the older mansion.
As he settles into Gracie Mansion near his first day on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting a stark contrast to his humble Astoria digs.
With its butter yellow paint, forest green window covers, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure situated by the East River.
Inside, the first floor of the classically designed mansion is furnished in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.
The property, which allegedly has five bedrooms, also boasts enhanced security to secure the mayor and his family.
A number of people have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.
Chirlane McCray, the spouse of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors occasionally opened and closed by themselves, and the floorboards made strange noises.
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter what people claim," he declared in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."
Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilized, meaning the city imposes caps on how much building managers can increase rent each year.
New Yorkers view rent-stabilized housing as essential protections as the price of rent outpaces what many can afford.
Data indicated Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment.
Per figures from the real estate platform Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.
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