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The city's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to take up residence in the iconic Gracie Mansion, departing from the rent-stabilised apartment that became a focal point in his campaign.

A Traditional Abode

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the primary dwelling for nearly all New York City mayors after the mid-20th century.

But, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central issue, hesitated to declare he would live there immediately following his electoral win in November.

"The choice was based on keeping my family safe and the imperative to focusing my complete efforts on enacting the agenda for affordability New Yorkers supported," Mamdani said in his announcement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

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

"To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for demonstrating the true spirit of New York City," he expressed.

"While I may no longer live in Astoria, it will always live inside me and the work I do," he said.

Campaign Controversy

During his race for mayor, Mamdani tied his core platform – a rent freeze – to his circumstances as a tenant.

Yet his critics, most notably ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for living in the rent-stabilized unit even though he is from a well-known family.

Previous Exceptions

Not every mayor have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, kept his residence in his personal mansion on the Upper East Side during his tenure, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg said he believed it should be a venue for public city functions, and championed a major refurbishment of the historic mansion.

A Stately Residence

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 home.

Featuring butter yellow paint, green shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house situated by the East River.

Inside, the lower floor of the historically styled mansion is decorated to reflect the home's original era.

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

Haunted History

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

Chirlane McCray, the wife of former mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and closed by themselves, and the floors emitted odd sounds.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "I don't care the skeptics say," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

The apartment he is leaving is under rent control, meaning the city sets limits on how much property owners can raise the rent each year.

New Yorkers see such units as essential protections as the price of rent rises faster than the average income.

It was reported Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment.

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