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New York City's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, vacating the rent-stabilised apartment that sparked debate throughout his campaign.

An Iconic Home

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

But, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a key policy, hesitated to declare his residency plans right away following his triumph in November.

"My choice came down to the security of my family and the importance of dedicating all of my focus on carrying out the agenda for affordability New Yorkers voted for," Mamdani said on Monday.

Thanking a Neighborhood

Mamdani lived in the Astoria neighbourhood, a community renowned for its diverse cultural enclaves and international dining.

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

"While I may no longer live there, Astoria will forever remain within me and the work I do," he added.

A Contentious Issue

In his race for mayor, Mamdani linked his core platform – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.

However his opponents, mainly ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for remaining in the apartment even though he hails from a prominent family.

Previous Exceptions

Some mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, kept his residence in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side throughout his time in office, which ended in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg felt it ought to be a place for civic gatherings, and pushed for significant upgrades of the aging mansion.

A Grand New Home

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion sometime around his swearing-in on 1 January, he will be surrounded by surroundings very different than his modest Astoria apartment.

With its cream-colored walls, forest green window covers, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home situated by the East River.

Within, the lower floor of the classically designed mansion is furnished to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.

The estate, which is said to has five bedrooms, also has fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Ghostly Tales

Past occupants have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse 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 even more convinced. "I don't care what anyone says," he insisted in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

Mamdani's current apartment is rent stabilised, a policy where the city regulates on how much property owners can raise the rent each year.

New Yorkers see such units as crucial resources as the price of rent outpaces the average income.

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

Based on data from real estate analysts Zillow, the average rent for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.