🔗 Share this article

New York City's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to live in the iconic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the rent-stabilised apartment that became a focal point during his election bid.

An Iconic Home

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the official residence for the majority of New York City mayors from the post-war period.

Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a key policy, was not quick to announce he would live there promptly following his victory in November.

"The choice was based on keeping my family safe and the imperative to directing my complete efforts on carrying out the agenda for affordability New Yorkers supported," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement.

A Fond Farewell

Mamdani lived in the Queens borough of Astoria, a district famous for its vibrant cultural enclaves and international dining.

"To Astoria: my gratitude for demonstrating the best of New York City," he noted.

"While I may no longer live there, Astoria will forever remain inside me and my efforts as mayor," he said.

A Contentious Issue

In his election campaign, Mamdani tied his central policy – halting rent increases – to his own housing situation.

However his critics, most notably one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for living in the apartment although he hails from a prominent family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Not all mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, kept his residence in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side during his time in office, which wrapped up in 2012.

In his view, Bloomberg felt it could serve as a space for public city functions, and championed significant upgrades of the historic mansion.

A Grand New Home

Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion near his first day on 1 January, he will experience a setting far removed from his previous Astoria home.

Featuring cream-colored walls, emerald shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure overlooking the East River.

Inside, the first floor of the historically styled mansion is decorated to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.

The estate, which reportedly has several bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to protect the mayor and his family.

Haunted History

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

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

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

A Critical Policy Issue

His former home is rent stabilised, a policy where the city sets limits on how much building managers can hike the monthly cost each year.

Tenants view rent-stabilized housing as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing exceeds the means of many residents.

Data indicated Mamdani his rent was $2,300 each month for his apartment.

Based on data from the property website Zillow, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.