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NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to take up residence in the historic Gracie Mansion, vacating the rent-stabilised apartment that was a central issue in his run for office.

A Historic Residence

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the official residence for most New York City mayors since the mid-20th century.

But, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a key policy, hesitated to declare his residency plans immediately after his triumph in November.

"This decision was based on the security of my family and the need to directing my complete efforts on implementing the platform on affordability the city's residents supported," the Mayor-Elect declared on Monday.

Thanking a Neighborhood

Mamdani lived in the Queens borough of Astoria, a district renowned for its abundance of cultural enclaves and culinary diversity.

"To the people of Astoria: many thanks for showing us the best of New York City," Mamdani's statement said.

"Even though I'm moving in Astoria, it will always live inside me and the work I do," he said.

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his race for mayor, Mamdani connected his core platform – halting rent increases – to his own housing situation.

Yet his opponents, mainly former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for occupying the rent-stabilized unit although he hails from a famous family.

A House Not Always Used

Not every mayor have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, preferred to remain in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side for his three terms, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a place for public city functions, and championed a major refurbishment of the historic mansion.

A Grand New Home

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion for his inauguration on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment very different than his humble Astoria home.

Featuring cream-colored walls, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River.

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

The compound, which is said to has five bedrooms, also includes enhanced security to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Ghostly Tales

A number of people have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors would sometimes open and closed by themselves, and the floors emitted odd sounds.

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

A Critical Policy Issue

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

City residents view rent-stabilized housing as valuable lifelines as the price of rent exceeds the average income.

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

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