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The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to live in the traditional Gracie Mansion, vacating his rent-controlled apartment that became a focal point throughout his election bid.

A Traditional Abode

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors since the World War II era.

However, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a key policy, hesitated to declare this decision immediately after his victory in November.

"The choice rested on the security of my family and the imperative to focusing all of my focus on carrying out the affordability agenda the city's residents elected me on," stated Mamdani on Monday.

Leaving Astoria

His home was in the Queens borough of Astoria, a community renowned for its abundance of immigrant populations and global cuisine.

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

"Although my address will change in the neighborhood, Astoria will continue to reside a part of me and the work I do," he added.

Campaign Controversy

During his race for mayor, Mamdani connected his core platform – halting rent increases – to his circumstances as a tenant.

Yet his opponents, including one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for occupying the apartment even though he came from a well-known family.

Previous Exceptions

Not all mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, chose to live in his private home on the Upper East Side during his tenure, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a venue for civic gatherings, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion near his first day on 1 January, he will experience a setting far removed from his humble Astoria apartment.

Adorned in cream-colored walls, emerald shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house with views of the East River.

Inside, the lower floor of the classically designed mansion is decorated to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.

The compound, which is said to has five bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Ghostly Tales

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

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

Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter what anyone says," he insisted in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

His former home is rent-stabilized, a policy where the city imposes caps on how much building managers can raise the rent each year.

Tenants view rent-stabilized housing as crucial resources as the price of rent exceeds the average income.

It was reported Mamdani paid about $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.