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NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, vacating the affordable apartment that became a focal point during his campaign.

A Historic Residence

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the official residence for the majority of New York City mayors after the post-war period.

However, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a key platform, was not quick to announce his residency plans promptly following his electoral win in November.

"My choice rested on keeping my family safe and the importance of focusing my complete efforts on implementing the agenda for affordability the city's residents supported," stated Mamdani on Monday.

A Fond Farewell

He resided in the Astoria neighbourhood, a community famous for its vibrant immigrant populations and culinary diversity.

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

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

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his election campaign, Mamdani tied his core platform – a rent freeze – to his circumstances as a tenant.

Yet his critics, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for living in the apartment even though he is from a well-known family.

A House Not Always Used

Some mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, preferred to remain in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side throughout his tenure, which wrapped up in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg felt it could serve as a venue for civic gatherings, and pushed for a major refurbishment of the historic mansion.

A Stately Residence

As he settles into Gracie Mansion sometime around his inauguration on 1 January, he will be surrounded by an environment very different than his previous Astoria home.

Adorned in butter yellow paint, green shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home overlooking the East River.

Within, the first floor of the historically styled mansion is furnished in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.

The estate, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also boasts increased security measures to protect the mayor and his family.

Ghostly Tales

A number of people have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors occasionally opened and shutting on their own, and the floorboards made strange noises.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "It doesn't matter what people claim," he stated in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

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

City residents see such units as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing outpaces the means of many residents.

Data indicated Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment.

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