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NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the historic Gracie Mansion, departing from his rent-controlled apartment that sparked debate throughout his campaign.

A Traditional Abode

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors from the post-war period.

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

"This decision came down to our family's safety and the imperative to directing all of my focus on carrying out the affordability agenda the city's residents elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared in a statement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

Mamdani lived in Astoria, Queens, a community renowned for its vibrant immigrant populations and culinary diversity.

"To the people of Astoria: many thanks for demonstrating what is great about New York City," he noted.

"While I may no longer live in Astoria, it will continue to reside inside me and the work I do," he affirmed.

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani tied his key pledge – halting rent increases – to his personal living arrangements.

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

Not All Mayors Stayed

Some mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, kept his residence in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side during his tenure, which wrapped up in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg argued it ought to be a space for official events, and championed significant upgrades of the older mansion.

A Grand New Home

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion sometime around his inauguration on 1 January, he will experience a setting a stark contrast to his humble Astoria home.

Adorned in pale yellow exterior, forest green window covers, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure overlooking the East River.

Internally, the lower floor of the Federal-style mansion is furnished to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.

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

Ghostly Tales

Past occupants have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that they experienced doors opening and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "It doesn't matter the skeptics say," he insisted in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

The Value of Rent Stabilization

His former home is under rent control, a policy where the city sets limits on how much landlords can raise the rent each year.

Tenants consider these apartments essential protections as the price of rent exceeds the means of many residents.

Records showed Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment.

Per figures from the real estate platform Zillow, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.