The Mayor-Elect states he will reside in the iconic Gracie Mansion

New York City's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to take up residence in the historic Gracie Mansion, departing from the affordable apartment that sparked debate throughout his election bid.

A Traditional Abode

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

Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a key policy, was not quick to announce he would live there right away after his electoral win in November.

"My choice was based on keeping my family safe and the need to dedicating my full attention on implementing the agenda for affordability New Yorkers voted for," the Mayor-Elect declared on Monday.

A Fond Farewell

He resided in Astoria, Queens, an area renowned for its diverse immigrant communities and global cuisine.

"To the people of Astoria: thank you for exemplifying the true spirit of New York City," he expressed.

"While I may no longer live in Astoria, Astoria will forever remain within me and the work I do," he affirmed.

Political Debate

In his race for mayor, Mamdani tied his core platform – a rent freeze – to his own housing situation.

But his critics, most notably one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for remaining in the apartment although he came from a well-known family.

Previous Exceptions

Not all mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, preferred to remain in his personal mansion on the Upper East Side for his time in office, which ended in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg argued it ought to be a space for public city functions, and championed a major refurbishment of the historic mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion for his swearing-in on 1 January, he will be surrounded by surroundings very different than his humble Astoria digs.

Adorned in pale yellow exterior, forest green window covers, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home overlooking the East River.

Within, the first floor of the historically styled mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.

The compound, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also includes fortified protections to secure the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

A number of people have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and shutting on their own, and the floorboards made strange noises.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "No matter the skeptics say," he stated in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

The apartment he is leaving is under rent control, a policy where the city sets limits on how much building managers can hike the monthly cost each year.

New Yorkers see such units as valuable lifelines as the price of rent outpaces the means of many residents.

Data indicated Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment.

Based on data from real estate analysts Zillow, the median rent for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.