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The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to take up residence in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from the rent-stabilised apartment that was a central issue throughout his run for office.

An Iconic Home

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for the majority of New York City mayors after the mid-20th century.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a core issue, did not confirm this decision immediately after his triumph in November.

"This decision rested on our family's safety and the need to focusing my complete efforts on carrying out the affordability agenda New Yorkers elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared in a statement.

Leaving Astoria

He resided in Astoria, Queens, a community renowned for its abundance of immigrant communities and global cuisine.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: my gratitude for showing us the true spirit of New York City," Mamdani's statement said.

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

A Contentious Issue

In his election campaign, Mamdani linked his central policy – halting rent increases – to his circumstances as a tenant.

But his opponents, most notably one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the apartment even though he came from a prominent family.

Previous Exceptions

Some mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, chose to live in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side throughout his tenure, which concluded in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg argued it ought to be a space for civic gatherings, and championed a major refurbishment of the older mansion.

A Stately Residence

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion for his swearing-in on 1 January, he will experience an environment a stark contrast to his modest Astoria apartment.

Adorned in cream-colored walls, emerald shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home situated by the East River.

Within, the first floor of the Federal-style mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's historical period.

The property, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also has fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

Past occupants have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of former mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and closed by themselves, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter what anyone says," he insisted in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

His former home is under rent control, meaning the city imposes caps on how much building managers can increase rent each year.

City residents see such units as crucial resources as the price of rent exceeds what many can afford.

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

Per figures from the real estate platform Zillow, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.