The Mayor-Elect confirms his intention to make his home in the storied Gracie Mansion
The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to live in the iconic Gracie Mansion, departing from the affordable apartment that became a focal point throughout his election bid.
An Iconic Home
Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for most New York City mayors since the World War II era.
However, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a key policy, did not confirm he would live there promptly after his victory in November.
"My choice came down to the security of my family and the need to dedicating my complete efforts on carrying out the affordability agenda voters supported," Mamdani said on Monday.
Thanking a Neighborhood
He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, a district known for its diverse immigrant populations and global cuisine.
"To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for showing us the best of New York City," he noted.
"Even though I'm moving there, Astoria will continue to reside inside me and the work I do," he said.
Political Debate
Throughout his election campaign, Mamdani tied his central policy – to freeze the rent – to his personal living arrangements.
But his critics, including one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for living in the affordable housing even though he is from a famous family.
A House Not Always Used
Some mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.
Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, kept his residence in his personal mansion on the Upper East Side for his three terms, which ended in 2012.
Instead, Bloomberg felt it could serve as a place for civic gatherings, and advocated for an extensive renovation of the older mansion.
A Vastly Different Setting
As he settles into Gracie Mansion near his first day on 1 January, he will be surrounded by an environment far removed from his modest Astoria home.
With its butter yellow paint, forest green window covers, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home with views of the East River.
Within, the ground floor of the Federal-style mansion is furnished to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.
The compound, which allegedly has five bedrooms, also includes enhanced security to protect the mayor and his family.
Supernatural Speculation
Some residents have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.
Chirlane McCray, the wife of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that they experienced doors opening and closed by themselves, and the floorboards creaked eerily.
Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "I don't care what people claim," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."
A Critical Policy Issue
His former home is under rent control, which means the city sets limits on how much property owners can hike the monthly cost each year.
Tenants view rent-stabilized housing as essential protections as the price of rent exceeds the means of many residents.
Records showed Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment.
Based on data from the real estate platform Zillow, the median rent for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.
