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The city's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to make his home in the historic Gracie Mansion, vacating the affordable apartment that sparked debate throughout his election bid.

A Traditional Abode

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the primary dwelling for nearly all New York City mayors since the post-war period.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a core issue, hesitated to declare this decision promptly following his victory in November.

"The choice was based on the security of my family and the imperative to dedicating my full attention on carrying out the agenda for affordability voters supported," stated Mamdani in a statement.

A Fond Farewell

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

"To Astoria: my gratitude for demonstrating the best of New York City," he noted.

"While I may no longer live in Astoria, the community will continue to reside within me and my work," he said.

A Contentious Issue

In his election campaign, Mamdani connected his key pledge – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.

Yet his critics, mainly ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for remaining in the affordable housing even though he hails from a prominent family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, chose to live in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side for his tenure, which concluded in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg argued it should be a space for civic gatherings, and championed significant upgrades of the historic mansion.

A Grand New Home

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion near his inauguration on 1 January, he will be surrounded by an environment a stark contrast to his humble Astoria home.

Adorned in pale yellow exterior, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure overlooking the East River.

Inside, the ground floor of the historically styled mansion is appointed in the spirit of the home's original era.

The property, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also includes increased security measures to protect the mayor and his family.

Supernatural Speculation

A number of people have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors occasionally opened and closed by themselves, and the floors emitted odd sounds.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter what people claim," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

The apartment he is leaving is rent-stabilized, which means the city regulates on how much property owners can hike the monthly cost each year.

City residents view rent-stabilized housing as essential protections as the cost of housing outpaces what many can afford.

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

According to the real estate platform Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.