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New York City's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to live in the iconic Gracie Mansion, departing from his rent-controlled apartment that sparked debate during his run for office.

A Historic Residence

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

But, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central platform, hesitated to declare he would live there right away following his triumph in November.

"My choice came down to keeping my family safe and the importance of directing my full attention on enacting the agenda for affordability the city's residents supported," Mamdani said in his announcement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

His home was in Astoria, Queens, a community famous for its diverse immigrant communities and global cuisine.

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

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

Campaign Controversy

During his campaign, Mamdani tied his central policy – a rent freeze – to his personal living arrangements.

But his opponents, mainly ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for remaining in the rent-stabilized unit despite the fact that he hails from a famous family.

A House Not Always Used

Not every mayor have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, chose to live in his private home on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his time in office, which concluded in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg said he believed it should be a place for official events, and advocated for a major refurbishment 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 very different than his humble Astoria apartment.

With its cream-colored walls, emerald shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home situated by the East River.

Within, the ground floor of the classically designed mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.

The compound, which reportedly 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 spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of former mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors would sometimes open and closed by themselves, and the floors emitted odd sounds.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "I don't care what anyone says," he stated in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilized, which means the city sets limits on how much building managers can increase rent each year.

City residents see such units as valuable lifelines as the price of rent rises faster than the average income.

Data indicated Mamdani was paying approximately $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.