🔗 Share this article

NYC's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind his rent-controlled apartment that was a central issue in his campaign.

A Historic Residence

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the primary dwelling for the majority of New York City mayors since the mid-20th century.

But, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a core issue, did not confirm his residency plans right away following his victory in November.

"The choice rested on our family's safety and the need to focusing my full attention on implementing the agenda for affordability voters supported," Mamdani said in a statement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

His home was in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area famous for its abundance of immigrant populations and global cuisine.

"To Astoria: many thanks for demonstrating what is great about New York City," he expressed.

"While I may no longer live there, Astoria will always live a part of me and the work I do," he said.

Political Debate

Throughout his election campaign, Mamdani linked his core platform – a rent freeze – to his own housing situation.

But his critics, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for remaining in the rent-stabilized unit although he hails from a prominent family.

A House Not Always Used

Not every mayor have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, kept his residence in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his tenure, which ended in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg felt it ought to be a space for civic gatherings, and advocated for significant upgrades of the older mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

As he settles into Gracie Mansion near his inauguration on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting far removed from his previous Astoria apartment.

Adorned in cream-colored walls, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house with views of the East River.

Internally, the first floor of the classically designed mansion is appointed in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.

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

Supernatural Speculation

Past occupants have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors occasionally opened and shutting on their own, and the floorboards made strange noises.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "No matter what people claim," he stated in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

His former home is rent stabilised, which means the city sets limits on how much property owners can raise the rent each year.

New Yorkers see such units as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing outpaces what many can afford.

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

Per figures from the real estate platform Zillow, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.