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The city's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, departing from the rent-stabilised apartment that became a focal point during his election bid.

A Traditional Abode

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for most New York City mayors since the post-war period.

However, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a key policy, hesitated to declare this decision right away following his victory in November.

"My choice was based on keeping my family safe and the imperative to directing all of my focus on carrying out the platform on affordability voters elected me on," Mamdani said on Monday.

A Fond Farewell

He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area renowned for its diverse immigrant communities and culinary diversity.

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

"Even though I'm moving in the neighborhood, the community will always live within me and the work I do," he affirmed.

A Contentious Issue

During his race for mayor, Mamdani connected his key pledge – a rent freeze – to his personal living arrangements.

However his rivals, most notably one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the rent-stabilized unit although he is from a famous family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Some mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, chose to live in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his tenure, which concluded in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg felt it ought to be a venue for official events, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Grand New Home

As he settles into Gracie Mansion near his first day on 1 January, he will be surrounded by a setting a stark contrast to his humble Astoria home.

Adorned in pale yellow exterior, forest green window covers, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure with views of the East River.

Internally, the lower floor of the historically styled mansion is furnished in the spirit of the home's historical period.

The estate, which allegedly has five bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to secure the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

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

Chirlane McCray, the wife of former mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors occasionally opened and shutting on their own, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "No matter what anyone says," he declared in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilized, a policy where the city regulates on how much building managers can increase rent each year.

City residents consider these apartments valuable lifelines as the housing expenses outpaces what many can afford.

It was reported Mamdani paid about $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.