🔗 Share this article Zohran Mamdani affirms plans to reside in the storied Gracie Mansion New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani NYC's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to make his home in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from the rent-stabilised apartment that was a central issue during his run for office. An Iconic Home Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for most New York City mayors from the mid-20th century. Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central policy, hesitated to declare this decision right away after his triumph in November. "The choice came down to keeping my family safe and the imperative to focusing my full attention on carrying out the agenda for affordability voters voted for," the Mayor-Elect declared in a statement. Thanking a Neighborhood He resided in the Astoria neighbourhood, a community renowned for its abundance of cultural enclaves and culinary diversity. "To my neighbors in Astoria: my gratitude for demonstrating the true spirit of New York City," he expressed. "Although my address will change in the neighborhood, the community will continue to reside inside me and the work I do," he said. Political Debate In his campaign, Mamdani linked his key pledge – halting rent increases – to his circumstances as a tenant. However his opponents, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for living in the rent-stabilized unit although he came from a well-known family. Previous Exceptions Not every mayor have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion. Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, chose to live in his personal mansion on the Upper East Side throughout his tenure, which wrapped up in 2012. Rather, Bloomberg argued it should be a venue for public city functions, and pushed for a major refurbishment of the older mansion. The outside of Gracie Mansion in New York City. A Grand New Home As he settles into Gracie Mansion for his inauguration on 1 January, he will be surrounded by an environment very different than his humble Astoria apartment. With its pale yellow exterior, emerald shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River. Within, the lower floor of the classically designed mansion is appointed to reflect the home's historical period. The compound, which allegedly has several bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to safeguard the mayor and his family. Ghostly Tales A number of people have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has supernatural lodgers. Chirlane McCray, the wife of ex-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 even more convinced. "I don't care the skeptics say," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man." The Value of Rent Stabilization His former home is rent stabilised, which means the city imposes caps on how much property owners can raise the rent each year. City residents see such units as valuable lifelines as the price of rent rises faster than the average income. Records showed Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment. According to the real estate platform Zillow, the median rent for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.