The Mayor-Elect states his intention to live in the storied Gracie Mansion
NYC's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to live in the iconic Gracie Mansion, vacating his rent-controlled apartment that became a focal point in his campaign.
An Iconic Home
Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the primary dwelling for nearly all New York City mayors since the post-war period.
Yet, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a central policy, hesitated to declare this decision immediately after his triumph in November.
"The choice rested on the security of my family and the importance of dedicating my full attention on carrying out the affordability agenda voters voted for," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement.
Thanking a Neighborhood
His home was in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area famous for its diverse immigrant communities and culinary diversity.
"To my neighbors in Astoria: my gratitude for showing us what is great about New York City," he expressed.
"While I may no longer live in the neighborhood, Astoria will always live inside me and the work I do," he said.
Campaign Controversy
In his race for mayor, Mamdani linked his central policy – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.
However his opponents, most notably former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for living in the affordable housing although he is from a famous family.
A House Not Always Used
Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.
Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, preferred to remain in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his tenure, which ended in 2012.
In his view, Bloomberg felt it ought to be a place for civic gatherings, and pushed for a major refurbishment of the historic mansion.
A Grand New Home
When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion for his first day on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment far removed from his previous Astoria apartment.
With its pale yellow exterior, forest green window covers, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home with views of the East River.
Internally, the ground floor of the Federal-style mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.
The property, which reportedly has several bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.
Ghostly Tales
A number of people have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.
Chirlane McCray, the wife of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and closed by themselves, and the floorboards creaked eerily.
Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter what people claim," he declared in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."
Affordable Housing Lifeline
His former home is rent stabilised, a policy where the city regulates on how much landlords can raise the rent each year.
City residents view rent-stabilized housing as essential protections as the cost of housing rises faster than the average income.
Records showed Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment.
Based on data from the property website Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.
