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NYC's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the affordable apartment that became a focal point throughout his run for office.

A Historic Residence

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the official residence for the majority of New York City mayors from the World War II era.

However, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a key issue, hesitated to declare he would live there right away after his electoral win in November.

"The choice came down to our family's safety and the imperative to directing my full attention on enacting the platform on affordability New Yorkers elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared in a statement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

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

"To my neighbors in Astoria: my gratitude for demonstrating what is great about New York City," he expressed.

"Even though I'm moving there, the community will forever remain inside me and the work I do," he added.

Campaign Controversy

In his campaign, Mamdani linked his central policy – halting rent increases – to his own housing situation.

But his rivals, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for living in the rent-stabilized unit despite the fact that he is from a famous family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not all mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, kept his residence in his private home on the Upper East Side for his three terms, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg felt it ought to be a space for civic gatherings, and pushed for a major refurbishment of the older mansion.

A Grand New Home

As he settles into Gracie Mansion near his inauguration on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting very different than his humble Astoria home.

Adorned in butter yellow paint, green shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River.

Inside, the ground floor of the Federal-style mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.

The estate, which is said to has five bedrooms, also includes increased security measures to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

Past occupants have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors would sometimes open and shutting on their own, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "I don't care the skeptics say," he stated in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

The apartment he is leaving is rent-stabilized, meaning the city sets limits on how much building managers can increase rent each year.

New Yorkers view rent-stabilized housing as crucial resources as the cost of housing outpaces the average income.

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

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