New York's next mayor confirms plans to make his home in historic Gracie Mansion
New York City's next chief executive, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to live in the historic Gracie Mansion, leaving behind the rent-stabilised apartment that became a focal point during his election bid.
An Iconic Home
Dating back to 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the mayoral home for the majority of New York City mayors since the World War II era.
However, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a central issue, was not quick to announce this decision right away after his triumph in November.
"The choice came down to keeping my family safe and the importance of focusing my complete efforts on carrying out the platform on affordability voters elected me on," Mamdani said in a statement.
A Fond Farewell
Mamdani lived in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area renowned for its vibrant immigrant populations and culinary diversity.
"To my neighbors in Astoria: thank you for demonstrating what is great about New York City," he noted.
"Even though I'm moving in Astoria, the community will continue to reside within me and my efforts as mayor," he said.
Campaign Controversy
During his election campaign, Mamdani tied his key pledge – a rent freeze – to his own housing situation.
Yet his opponents, mainly ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, criticised Mamdani for living in the apartment even though he came from a prominent family.
Not All Mayors Stayed
Not all mayors have opted to reside at Gracie Mansion.
Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, preferred to remain in his personal mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side for his three terms, which ended in 2012.
In his view, Bloomberg said he believed it could serve as a venue for civic gatherings, and pushed for a major refurbishment of the aging mansion.
A Grand New Home
As he settles into Gracie Mansion sometime around his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting very different than his modest Astoria home.
Adorned in cream-colored walls, emerald shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a picturesque home situated by the East River.
Inside, the first floor of the classically designed mansion is decorated to reflect the home's early 19th-century origins.
The estate, which reportedly has five bedrooms, also includes fortified protections to protect the mayor and his family.
Supernatural Speculation
Some residents have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants.
Chirlane McCray, the partner of former mayor Bill De Blasio, informed the press that doors occasionally opened and shutting on their own, and the floors emitted odd sounds.
Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "It doesn't matter what anyone says," he stated in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."
A Critical Policy Issue
His former home is under rent control, which means the city regulates on how much property owners can hike the monthly cost each year.
City residents see such units as crucial resources as the cost of housing outpaces the means of many residents.
It was reported Mamdani was paying approximately $2,300 each month for his apartment.
According to the real estate platform Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.
