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NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to take up residence in the historic Gracie Mansion, departing from the affordable apartment that sparked debate throughout his run for office.

An Iconic Home

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the primary dwelling for nearly all New York City mayors from the mid-20th century.

However, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a core platform, was not quick to announce his residency plans immediately after his triumph in November.

"My choice came down to keeping my family safe and the importance of focusing my full attention on enacting the agenda for affordability New Yorkers elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared on Monday.

A Fond Farewell

He resided in the Astoria neighbourhood, a district renowned for its abundance of immigrant communities and culinary diversity.

"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 the neighborhood, the community will forever remain within me and my work," he said.

Campaign Controversy

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani linked his key pledge – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.

Yet his critics, most notably former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for remaining in the apartment although he came from a prominent family.

A House Not Always Used

Not all mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, kept his residence in his private home on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his tenure, which concluded in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg argued it ought to be a venue for official events, and championed an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Stately Residence

As he settles into Gracie Mansion for his inauguration on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment far removed from his previous Astoria home.

Featuring pale yellow exterior, green shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house with views of the East River.

Inside, the ground floor of the Federal-style mansion is furnished to reflect the home's historical period.

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

Haunted History

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

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of former mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "It doesn't matter the skeptics say," he stated in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

His former home is rent-stabilized, which means the city regulates on how much property owners can raise the rent each year.

Tenants consider these apartments essential protections as the cost of housing outpaces the means of many residents.

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

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