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New York City's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to live in the iconic Gracie Mansion, departing from the rent-stabilised apartment that was a central issue during his campaign.

An Iconic Home

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the official residence for most New York City mayors after the mid-20th century.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a core issue, hesitated to declare his residency plans immediately following his triumph in November.

"The choice was based on the security of my family and the need to focusing my complete efforts on implementing the affordability agenda the city's residents elected me on," the Mayor-Elect declared on Monday.

A Fond Farewell

His home was in the Queens borough of Astoria, a district renowned for its abundance of immigrant populations and international dining.

"To Astoria: my gratitude for showing us the best of New York City," he expressed.

"While I may no longer live in the neighborhood, the community will continue to reside a part of me and the work I do," he said.

A Contentious Issue

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

Yet his critics, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for occupying the rent-stabilized unit even though he hails from a famous family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not all mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, kept his residence in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his three terms, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg felt it should be a space for official events, and pushed for a major refurbishment of the older mansion.

A Stately Residence

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion sometime around his first day on 1 January, he will experience a setting far removed from his humble Astoria home.

With its butter yellow paint, green shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home with views of the East River.

Inside, the first floor of the historically styled mansion is decorated to reflect the home's original era.

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

Ghostly Tales

Some residents have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors occasionally opened and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "It doesn't matter what people claim," he insisted in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

His former home is under rent control, which means the city sets limits on how much building managers can raise the rent each year.

New Yorkers consider these apartments valuable lifelines as the price of rent rises faster than what many can afford.

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 one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.