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NYC's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to take up residence in the iconic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind his rent-controlled apartment that was a central issue throughout his election bid.

A Historic Residence

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for most New York City mayors from the World War II era.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a key issue, was not quick to announce his residency plans right away after his electoral win in November.

"My choice came down to keeping my family safe and the imperative to focusing all of my focus on carrying out the affordability agenda New Yorkers elected me on," Mamdani said in a statement.

A Fond Farewell

He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, a district known for its abundance of immigrant populations and global cuisine.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for showing us the best of New York City," Mamdani's statement said.

"Although my address will change in the neighborhood, Astoria will forever remain a part of me and the work I do," he added.

A Contentious Issue

During his race for mayor, Mamdani tied his central policy – halting rent increases – to his own housing situation.

Yet his rivals, most notably ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for living in the rent-stabilized unit although he is from a prominent family.

Previous Exceptions

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, chose to live in his private home on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his time in office, which concluded in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a venue for public city functions, and championed a major refurbishment of the historic mansion.

A Stately Residence

As he settles into Gracie Mansion for his inauguration on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting a stark contrast to his modest Astoria home.

Featuring butter yellow paint, forest green window covers, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River.

Internally, the ground floor of the historically styled mansion is furnished consistent with the home's historical period.

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

Ghostly Tales

A number of people have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

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

The departing mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "No matter what people claim," he insisted in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

His former home is rent-stabilized, which means the city imposes caps on how much property owners can hike the monthly cost each year.

Tenants view rent-stabilized housing as essential protections as the cost of housing rises faster than what many can afford.

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

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