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NYC's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, departing from the affordable apartment that sparked debate throughout his campaign.

A Traditional Abode

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors after the mid-20th century.

But, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a core platform, did not confirm this decision immediately following his electoral win in November.

"The choice came down to our family's safety and the need to focusing all of my focus on enacting the platform on affordability the city's residents supported," stated Mamdani in a statement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

Mamdani lived in the Astoria neighbourhood, a district renowned for its abundance of immigrant populations and global cuisine.

"To Astoria: many thanks for showing us what is great about New York City," he expressed.

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

A Contentious Issue

During his race for mayor, Mamdani tied his core platform – to freeze the rent – to his personal living arrangements.

However his rivals, mainly ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for occupying the apartment although he came from a famous family.

A House Not Always Used

Not all mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, preferred to remain in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side for his time in office, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a space for official events, and championed a major refurbishment of the historic mansion.

A Stately Residence

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion sometime around his first day on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting a stark contrast to his modest Astoria apartment.

Featuring cream-colored walls, forest green window covers, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house with views of the East River.

Within, the lower floor of the Federal-style mansion is appointed in the spirit of the home's historical period.

The compound, which allegedly has several bedrooms, also boasts enhanced security to safeguard 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 former mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors would sometimes open and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "I don't care what people claim," he insisted in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

The apartment he is leaving is under rent control, a policy where the city sets limits on how much landlords can increase rent each year.

New Yorkers see such units as crucial resources as the price of rent outpaces the means of many residents.

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

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