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The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to make his home in the historic Gracie Mansion, vacating the rent-stabilised apartment that sparked debate during his election bid.

An Iconic Home

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for the majority of New York City mayors after the World War II era.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central platform, did not confirm he would live there right away after his triumph in November.

"My choice rested on our family's safety and the importance of dedicating my full attention on implementing the platform on affordability the city's residents supported," stated Mamdani in a statement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

Mamdani lived in Astoria, Queens, a community renowned for its abundance of immigrant communities and culinary diversity.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: my gratitude for showing us the best of New York City," he noted.

"While I may no longer live in Astoria, Astoria will forever remain inside me and my work," he said.

Political Debate

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani linked his key pledge – a rent freeze – to his circumstances as a tenant.

However his rivals, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for remaining in the rent-stabilized unit even though he is from a prominent family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, preferred to remain in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his three terms, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg argued it ought to be a place for civic gatherings, and championed significant upgrades of the older mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion sometime around his inauguration on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment a stark contrast to his humble Astoria home.

With its cream-colored walls, green shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house with views of the East River.

Internally, the ground floor of the classically designed mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's historical period.

The property, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Supernatural Speculation

Past occupants have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and closed by themselves, and the floorboards made strange noises.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "No matter what anyone says," he insisted in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

His former home is rent stabilised, a policy where the city regulates on how much landlords can raise the rent each year.

City residents see such units as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing exceeds what many can afford.

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

According to the real estate platform Zillow, the median rent for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.