New York's next mayor states his intention to live in historic Gracie Mansion
New York City's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to make his home in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from the affordable apartment that was a central issue throughout his run for office.
A Historic Residence
Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for most New York City mayors from the World War II era.
But, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a core policy, hesitated to declare his residency plans promptly after his electoral win in November.
"My choice came down to keeping my family safe and the imperative to directing all of my focus on carrying out the agenda for affordability New Yorkers supported," stated Mamdani on Monday.
A Fond Farewell
Mamdani lived in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area famous for its abundance of cultural enclaves and global cuisine.
"To the people of Astoria: thank you for exemplifying what is great about New York City," he noted.
"While I may no longer live in Astoria, it will continue to reside within me and the work I do," he added.
A Contentious Issue
Throughout his race for mayor, Mamdani connected his key pledge – to freeze the rent – to his circumstances as a tenant.
However his opponents, most notably one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for occupying the apartment despite the fact that he is from a prominent family.
Not All Mayors Stayed
Not all mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.
Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, preferred to remain in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side during his three terms, which ended in 2012.
Rather, Bloomberg argued it ought to be a place for official events, and advocated for an extensive renovation of the older mansion.
A Vastly Different Setting
Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion for his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in an environment a stark contrast to his modest Astoria home.
Featuring pale yellow exterior, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home overlooking the East River.
Within, the ground floor of the classically designed mansion is decorated consistent with the home's early 19th-century origins.
The compound, which reportedly has several bedrooms, also has increased security measures to safeguard the mayor and his family.
Haunted History
Past occupants have suggested that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.
Chirlane McCray, the wife of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors would sometimes open and shutting on their own, and the floorboards made strange noises.
The departing mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "It doesn't matter what anyone says," he declared in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."
Affordable Housing Lifeline
His former home is rent stabilised, which means the city imposes caps on how much landlords can raise the rent each year.
City residents see such units as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing outpaces the average income.
It was reported Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment.
Based on data from the real estate platform Zillow, the median rent for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.
