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The city's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to take up residence in the iconic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the rent-stabilised apartment that became a focal point in his election bid.

An Iconic Home

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for most New York City mayors since the World War II era.

But, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central issue, did not confirm his residency plans immediately following his triumph in November.

"This decision rested on the security of my family and the need to dedicating my complete efforts on implementing the affordability agenda New Yorkers elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared in a statement.

Leaving Astoria

Mamdani lived in Astoria, Queens, a district famous for its diverse immigrant communities and culinary diversity.

"To Astoria: many thanks for showing us the best of New York City," he expressed.

"While I may no longer live in the neighborhood, Astoria will always live within me and my work," he said.

Campaign Controversy

Throughout his race for mayor, Mamdani connected his central policy – halting rent increases – to his own housing situation.

Yet his critics, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for living in the apartment even though he came from a prominent family.

A House Not Always Used

Not all mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, preferred to remain in his personal mansion on the Upper East Side throughout his three terms, which ended in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg felt it could serve as a space for public city functions, and championed a major refurbishment of the aging mansion.

A Stately Residence

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion for his inauguration on 1 January, he will experience surroundings very different than his humble Astoria home.

Featuring pale yellow exterior, emerald shutters, and pristine railings, 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 appointed to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.

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

Haunted History

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

Chirlane McCray, the wife of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors occasionally opened and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards made strange noises.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "I don't care what people claim," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilized, meaning the city imposes caps on how much landlords can hike the monthly cost each year.

Tenants view rent-stabilized housing as essential protections as the cost of housing rises faster than the average income.

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

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