🔗 Share this article

NYC's next chief executive, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to live in the historic Gracie Mansion, vacating the rent-stabilised apartment that became a focal point during his campaign.

An Iconic Home

Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors from the post-war period.

However, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central policy, was not quick to announce he would live there right away following his electoral win in November.

"The choice was based on keeping my family safe and the importance of focusing all of my focus on carrying out the affordability agenda New Yorkers supported," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area famous for its diverse immigrant communities and international dining.

"To the people of Astoria: my gratitude for demonstrating what is great about New York City," he expressed.

"While I may no longer live there, it will always live within me and my work," he affirmed.

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his race for mayor, Mamdani tied his central policy – a rent freeze – to his circumstances as a tenant.

But his critics, mainly former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for living in the affordable housing although he hails from a famous family.

A House Not Always Used

Not every mayor have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, chose to live in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side during his three terms, which ended in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg felt it should be a place for official events, and pushed for significant upgrades of the historic mansion.

A Stately Residence

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion near his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment a stark contrast to his previous Astoria digs.

Adorned in pale yellow exterior, green shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house situated by the East River.

Internally, the lower floor of the historically styled mansion is appointed in the spirit of the home's early 19th-century origins.

The compound, which allegedly has five bedrooms, also includes enhanced security to safeguard the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

Some residents have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the wife of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors would sometimes open and shutting on their own, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "No matter what people claim," he insisted in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilized, which means the city imposes caps on how much property owners can increase rent each year.

New Yorkers see such units as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing outpaces the average income.

Records showed Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment.

According to the property website Zillow, the average rent for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.