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The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to live in the historic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the rent-stabilised apartment that was a central issue during his campaign.

A Traditional Abode

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors after the mid-20th century.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central platform, hesitated to declare this decision right away after his triumph in November.

"This decision was based on our family's safety and the importance of dedicating all of my focus on enacting the affordability agenda voters supported," Mamdani said on Monday.

Thanking a Neighborhood

His home was in the Queens borough of Astoria, a district known for its vibrant cultural enclaves and international dining.

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

"Although my address will change in Astoria, it will forever remain a part of me and the work I do," he said.

A Contentious Issue

In his race for mayor, Mamdani linked his core platform – a rent freeze – to his own housing situation.

However his opponents, including ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the apartment even though he came from a famous family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, kept his residence in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side throughout his three terms, which ended in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg said he believed it ought to be a space for civic gatherings, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion sometime around his inauguration on 1 January, he will experience surroundings far removed from his previous Astoria home.

Adorned in pale yellow exterior, forest green window covers, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house situated by the East River.

Within, the ground floor of the classically designed mansion is furnished in the spirit of the home's historical period.

The compound, which allegedly has several bedrooms, also has enhanced security to secure the mayor and his family.

Ghostly Tales

Past occupants have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors would sometimes open and shutting on their own, and the floors emitted odd sounds.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "It doesn't matter what people claim," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

The apartment he is leaving is rent-stabilized, which means the city imposes caps on how much building managers can increase rent each year.

New Yorkers view rent-stabilized housing as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing exceeds the average income.

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

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