Zohran Mamdani says he will move into Gracie Mansion as New York mayor
New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani will live in the Manhattan mansion his predecessors called home, leaving behind a rent-stabilized apartment that was the subject of heated debate during his campaign.
Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the residence of most New York City mayors since the World War II era.
But Mamdani, who sees affordable housing as a key issue, did not confirm he would live there immediately after his victory in November.
“This decision comes down to the safety of our family and the importance of dedicating my full focus to implementing the affordability agenda that New Yorkers voted for,” Mamdani said in a statement Monday. he said.
Mamdani lived in the Astoria neighborhood in Queens borough. Home to many middle-class families, the region is famous for its large immigrant community and international cuisine.
“To Astoria: thank you for showing us the best of New York City,” Mamdani said in a statement.
“Even though I no longer live in Astoria, Astoria will always live on in me and in the work I do,” he said.
During her campaign, Mamdani linked her main platform (rent freeze) to her own housing situation. However, her rivals, especially former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticized Mamdani for occupying the apartment despite coming from a famous family. His mother is filmmaker Mira Nair and his father Mahmood Mamdani is a professor at Columbia University.
Not every mayor chose to live in Gracie Mansion.
Billionaire entrepreneur and founder of the eponymous financial terminals Michael Bloomberg chose to live in his own townhouse in Manhattan’s Upper East Side neighborhood during his three terms ending in 2012.
Instead, Bloomberg said he believed it should be a space for public city functions and pushed for a comprehensive renovation of the aging mansion.
When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion in time for his Jan. 1 inauguration, he will find himself in a very different environment from his modest Astoria digs.
With its buttery yellow paint, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is the wedding cake of a home overlooking the East River. Inside, the lower level of the Federal-style mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home’s original period.
The compound, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also has increased security to protect the mayor and his family.
Some residents have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural tenants. Chirlane McCray, wife of former mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors occasionally opened and closed on their own and floorboards creaked alarmingly.
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more confident. “I don’t care what anyone says,” he said in 2022. “There are ghosts out there, man.”
Mamdani’s current apartment has a fixed rent, which means the city puts limits on how much landlords can raise the rent each year. New Yorkers consider these apartments to be valuable living resources because the cost of housing is much more than most people can afford.
Records show Mamdani pays around $2,300 (£1,725) each month for her flat. The average rent for a one-bedroom flat in New York is $3,500 (£2,625) a month, according to property platform Zillow.
