Zohran Mamdani states his intention to reside in historic Gracie Mansion
New York City's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to take up residence in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from his rent-controlled apartment that was a central issue throughout his campaign.
A Historic Residence
Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the mayoral home for nearly all New York City mayors from the mid-20th century.
However, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a central issue, did not confirm this decision right away following his electoral win in November.
"The choice rested on keeping my family safe and the imperative to focusing my complete efforts on carrying out the agenda for affordability New Yorkers elected me on," stated Mamdani in a statement.
Thanking a Neighborhood
He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, a district renowned for its vibrant immigrant populations and culinary diversity.
"To the people of Astoria: many thanks for exemplifying the best of New York City," Mamdani's statement said.
"Even though I'm moving in the neighborhood, it will always live inside me and my efforts as mayor," he said.
A Contentious Issue
In his race for mayor, Mamdani linked his central policy – a rent freeze – to his circumstances as a tenant.
Yet his critics, most notably ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the rent-stabilized unit although he came from a famous family.
Previous Exceptions
Some mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.
Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, chose to live in his own townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his time in office, which ended in 2012.
Instead, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a place for public city functions, and pushed for a major refurbishment of the historic mansion.
A Vastly Different Setting
As he settles into Gracie Mansion for his first day on 1 January, he will experience surroundings a stark contrast to his previous Astoria apartment.
Adorned in cream-colored walls, emerald shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house with views of the East River.
Internally, the lower floor of the classically designed mansion is appointed to reflect the home's original era.
The estate, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also includes enhanced security to safeguard the mayor and his family.
Ghostly Tales
Past occupants have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.
Chirlane McCray, the spouse of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors would sometimes open and shutting on their own, and the floorboards made strange noises.
Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter what anyone says," he insisted in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."
A Critical Policy Issue
His former home is rent-stabilized, a policy where the city regulates on how much property owners can raise the rent each year.
Tenants see such units as crucial resources as the price of rent rises faster than what many can afford.
Records showed Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment.
Per figures from the property website Zillow, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.