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NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to live in the historic Gracie Mansion, vacating his rent-controlled apartment that sparked debate throughout his run for office.

A Historic Residence

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the primary dwelling for the majority of New York City mayors since the post-war period.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a core policy, hesitated to declare he would live there immediately after his victory in November.

"The choice was based on our family's safety and the need to dedicating my complete efforts on carrying out the affordability agenda New Yorkers supported," stated Mamdani on Monday.

Thanking a Neighborhood

He resided in Astoria, Queens, a district famous for its diverse immigrant populations and international dining.

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

"Even though I'm moving in the neighborhood, the community will forever remain a part of me and the work I do," he added.

A Contentious Issue

In his election campaign, Mamdani tied his central policy – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.

However his rivals, mainly former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for remaining in the rent-stabilized unit although he came from a famous family.

A House Not Always Used

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, kept his residence in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his time in office, which ended in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg felt it could serve as a space for official events, and advocated for a major refurbishment of the aging mansion.

A Stately Residence

As he settles into Gracie Mansion for his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting very different than his modest Astoria digs.

Featuring butter yellow paint, emerald shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home overlooking the East River.

Internally, the lower floor of the Federal-style mansion is appointed to reflect the home's original era.

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

Haunted History

Some residents have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors would sometimes open and closed by themselves, and the floorboards made strange noises.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "It doesn't matter what anyone says," he declared in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

His former home is rent-stabilized, a policy where the city sets limits on how much property owners can hike the monthly cost each year.

City residents consider these apartments valuable lifelines as the cost of housing exceeds what many can afford.

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

According to real estate analysts Zillow, the median rent for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.