🔗 Share this article

NYC's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to take up residence in the traditional Gracie Mansion, vacating the affordable apartment that sparked debate during his election bid.

A Traditional Abode

Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the official residence for nearly all New York City mayors from the post-war period.

But, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a core issue, did not confirm this decision right away after his triumph in November.

"The choice was based on keeping my family safe and the need to focusing my complete efforts on implementing the platform on affordability voters voted for," stated Mamdani on Monday.

A Fond Farewell

His home was in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area renowned for its abundance of immigrant communities and international dining.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for demonstrating the true spirit of New York City," Mamdani's statement said.

"Although my address will change in Astoria, the community will continue to reside a part of me and my efforts as mayor," he said.

A Contentious Issue

In his race for mayor, Mamdani tied his central policy – to freeze the rent – to his personal living arrangements.

Yet his rivals, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for remaining in the affordable housing despite the fact that he hails from a famous family.

Previous Exceptions

Not every mayor have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, chose to live in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his three terms, which wrapped up in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg felt it should be a venue for public city functions, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the historic mansion.

A Grand New Home

As he settles into Gracie Mansion sometime around his first day on 1 January, he will be surrounded by surroundings very different than his modest Astoria apartment.

With its cream-colored walls, emerald shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River.

Inside, the first floor of the Federal-style mansion is appointed consistent with the home's early 19th-century origins.

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

Haunted History

A number of people have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that they experienced doors opening and shutting on their own, and the floorboards made strange noises.

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

A Critical Policy Issue

His former home is under rent control, meaning the city sets limits on how much landlords can raise the rent each year.

Tenants consider these apartments crucial resources as the price of rent exceeds the average income.

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

Per figures from the property website Zillow, the average rent for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.