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The city's next chief executive, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind his rent-controlled apartment that sparked debate throughout his campaign.

A Traditional Abode

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors since the World War II era.

However, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a central policy, hesitated to declare this decision promptly after his triumph in November.

"This decision was based on keeping my family safe and the importance of directing my complete efforts on implementing the agenda for affordability voters elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement.

Leaving Astoria

His home was in the Queens borough of Astoria, a community famous for its diverse cultural enclaves and global cuisine.

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

"Even though I'm moving in Astoria, it will always live inside me and my work," he said.

A Contentious Issue

In his race for mayor, Mamdani connected his core platform – halting rent increases – to his personal living arrangements.

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

Previous Exceptions

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, chose to live in his private home on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his three terms, which concluded in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg argued it should be a place for official events, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the aging mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion near his first day on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting very different than his humble Astoria home.

With its butter yellow paint, green shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure with views of the East River.

Inside, the ground floor of the Federal-style mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.

The estate, which allegedly has several bedrooms, also includes increased security measures to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

Some residents have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of former mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors occasionally opened and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

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

Affordable Housing Lifeline

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

City residents view rent-stabilized housing as valuable lifelines as the price of rent exceeds what many can afford.

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

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