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New York City's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to make his home in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from the rent-stabilised apartment that was a central issue during his campaign.

A Historic Residence

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the primary dwelling for most New York City mayors after the mid-20th century.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a key issue, hesitated to declare his residency plans right away following his electoral win in November.

"The choice came down to the security of my family and the importance of focusing my complete efforts on carrying out the platform on affordability the city's residents supported," Mamdani said in his announcement.

A Fond Farewell

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

"To Astoria: my gratitude for exemplifying the true spirit of New York City," he noted.

"Although my address will change in the neighborhood, the community will forever remain a part of me and my work," he said.

Political Debate

During his election campaign, Mamdani linked his core platform – halting rent increases – to his circumstances as a tenant.

But his opponents, mainly ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for remaining in the apartment despite the fact that he came from a well-known family.

A House Not Always Used

Not every mayor have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, chose to live in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his time in office, which wrapped up in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a venue for public city functions, and advocated for an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Grand New Home

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion near his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting far removed from his modest Astoria apartment.

With its cream-colored walls, green shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house situated by the East River.

Inside, the first 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 boasts fortified protections to protect the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

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

Chirlane McCray, the wife of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors would sometimes open and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards made strange noises.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "No matter what anyone says," he stated in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

His former home is under rent control, which means the city imposes caps on how much property owners can increase rent each year.

Tenants see such units as crucial resources as the housing expenses rises faster than what many can afford.

It was reported Mamdani his rent was $2,300 each month for his apartment.

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