🔗 Share this article

NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to live in the traditional Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the affordable apartment that became a focal point in his run for office.

An Iconic Home

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

Yet, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central policy, hesitated to declare he would live there immediately after his triumph in November.

"This decision was based on our family's safety and the importance of focusing my full attention on enacting the platform on affordability the city's residents voted for," stated Mamdani on Monday.

Thanking a Neighborhood

Mamdani lived in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area famous for its vibrant immigrant populations and culinary diversity.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: my gratitude for demonstrating what is great about New York City," Mamdani's statement said.

"While I may no longer live in the neighborhood, the community will continue to reside inside me and my work," he said.

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani tied his key pledge – a rent freeze – to his circumstances as a tenant.

Yet his critics, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for living in the rent-stabilized unit even though he is from a prominent family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, kept his residence in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his three terms, which concluded in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg said he believed it ought to be a space for civic gatherings, and advocated for an extensive renovation of the historic mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

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

Adorned in butter yellow paint, forest green window covers, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure with views of the East River.

Within, the ground floor of the Federal-style mansion is furnished consistent with the home's early 19th-century origins.

The compound, which is said to has five bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Supernatural Speculation

Past occupants have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of former mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors would sometimes open and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards made strange noises.

The departing mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "I don't care what anyone says," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

Mamdani's current apartment is under rent control, which means the city regulates on how much landlords can increase rent each year.

New Yorkers view rent-stabilized housing as essential protections as the cost of housing exceeds what many can afford.

It was reported Mamdani his rent was $2,300 each month for his apartment.

According to the property website Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.