🔗 Share this article

New York City's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the traditional Gracie Mansion, leaving behind his rent-controlled apartment that sparked debate during his campaign.

A Historic Residence

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

But, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a key policy, hesitated to declare this decision immediately after his triumph in November.

"This decision was based on keeping my family safe and the importance of dedicating all of my focus on enacting the platform on affordability the city's residents supported," stated Mamdani in a statement.

Thanking a Neighborhood

His home was in Astoria, Queens, a community famous for its vibrant immigrant populations and global cuisine.

"To the people of Astoria: my gratitude for showing us the true spirit of New York City," he noted.

"While I may no longer live in the neighborhood, it will forever remain inside me and my work," he added.

A Contentious Issue

Throughout his election campaign, Mamdani tied his core platform – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.

However his rivals, including one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for living in the rent-stabilized unit even though he is from a famous family.

Not All Mayors Stayed

Some mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, chose to live in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his three terms, which ended in 2012.

Rather, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a venue for public city functions, and advocated for an extensive renovation of the historic mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion for his swearing-in on 1 January, he will be surrounded by surroundings very different than his modest Astoria digs.

Featuring pale yellow exterior, green shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house situated by the East River.

Inside, the first floor of the Federal-style mansion is furnished to reflect the home's original era.

The compound, which reportedly has several bedrooms, also boasts increased security measures to protect the mayor and his family.

Ghostly Tales

Some residents have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.

Chirlane McCray, the partner of former mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and shutting on their own, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "I don't care what people claim," he declared in 2022. "It has spirits in there, man."

Affordable Housing Lifeline

Mamdani's current apartment is under rent control, which means the city sets limits on how much landlords can hike the monthly cost each year.

New Yorkers view rent-stabilized housing as essential protections as the price of rent exceeds what many can afford.

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

According to real estate analysts Zillow, the median rent for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.