🔗 Share this article New York's next mayor states he will live in the iconic Gracie Mansion New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the rent-stabilised apartment that sparked debate in his run for office. An Iconic Home Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the official residence for the majority of New York City mayors after the post-war period. But, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a central platform, did not confirm his residency plans promptly following his victory in November. "My choice rested on keeping my family safe and the importance of dedicating my full attention on implementing the platform on affordability the city's residents supported," the Mayor-Elect declared in his announcement. Leaving Astoria Mamdani lived in the Astoria neighbourhood, an area known for its diverse immigrant communities and global cuisine. "To Astoria: my gratitude for showing us the best of New York City," he expressed. "While I may no longer live in Astoria, Astoria will forever remain inside me and the work I do," he said. Political Debate During his race for mayor, Mamdani tied his core platform – to freeze the rent – to his personal living arrangements. Yet his opponents, most notably one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for remaining in the rent-stabilized unit even though he is from a well-known family. Not All Mayors Stayed Not all mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion. Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, kept his residence in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side throughout his three terms, which concluded in 2012. Rather, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a venue for official events, and advocated for significant upgrades of the historic mansion. The facade of Gracie Mansion in New York City. A Vastly Different Setting Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion near his inauguration on 1 January, he will experience surroundings far removed from his previous Astoria home. Adorned in butter yellow paint, green shutters, and bright white balustrades, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure with views of the East River. Inside, the ground floor of the historically styled mansion is decorated in the spirit of the home's original era. The compound, which allegedly has five bedrooms, also has fortified protections to secure the mayor and his family. Supernatural Speculation Past occupants have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers. Chirlane McCray, the spouse of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors would sometimes open and closed by themselves, and the floorboards made strange noises. Former Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "No matter what people claim," he stated in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man." A Critical Policy Issue His former home is under rent control, meaning the city sets limits on how much building managers can raise the rent each year. Tenants see such units as valuable lifelines as the cost of housing outpaces what many can afford. It was reported Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment. Per figures from the real estate platform Zillow, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.