BBC | New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani will live in the Manhattan mansion that his predecessors have called home, leaving behind a rent-stabilised apartment that became the subject of heated debate during his campaign.
Gracie Mansion, which dates to 1799, has served as the residence for most New York City mayors since World War Two.
But Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central issue, did not confirm he would live there immediately following his victory in November.
"This decision came down to our family's safety and the importance of dedicating all of my focus on enacting the affordability agenda New Yorkers voted for," Mamdani said in a statement on Monday.
He has been living in the Astoria neighbourhood in the borough of Queens. The area, home to many middle-class families, is famous for its abundance of immigrant communities and global cuisine.
"To Astoria: thank you for showing us the best of New York City," Mamdani's statement said.
"While I may no longer live in Astoria, Astoria will always live inside me and the work I do."
During his campaign, Mamdani tied his core platform - freeze the rent – to his own housing situation.
But his rivals, mainly former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for occupying the apartment even though he came from a famous family. His mother is the filmmaker Mira Nair, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia University.