Zohran Mamdani affirms he will make his home in historic Gracie Mansion
The city's next chief executive, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to live in the iconic Gracie Mansion, departing from the rent-stabilised apartment that was a central issue during his election bid.
A Historic Residence
Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the mayoral home for the majority of New York City mayors from the mid-20th century.
Yet, Mamdani, for whom housing costs is a core platform, was not quick to announce this decision promptly after his electoral win in November.
"The choice came down to our family's safety and the imperative to focusing all of my focus on carrying out the platform on affordability voters supported," stated Mamdani on Monday.
Thanking a Neighborhood
His home was in the Astoria neighbourhood, an area famous for its diverse immigrant populations and culinary diversity.
"To Astoria: many thanks for showing us what is great about New York City," he noted.
"While I may no longer live in the neighborhood, the community will continue to reside within me and the work I do," he added.
A Contentious Issue
In his campaign, Mamdani linked his key pledge – a rent freeze – to his personal living arrangements.
However his opponents, mainly one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the rent-stabilized unit although he came from a famous family.
Previous Exceptions
Not all mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion.
Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, preferred to remain in his personal mansion on the Upper East Side throughout his tenure, which wrapped up in 2012.
Rather, Bloomberg said he believed it should be a place for official events, and championed significant upgrades of the aging mansion.
A Grand New Home
As he settles into Gracie Mansion near his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in surroundings a stark contrast to his modest Astoria digs.
With its butter yellow paint, green shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River.
Internally, the lower floor of the Federal-style mansion is appointed in the spirit of the home's original era.
The compound, which is said to has several bedrooms, also boasts increased security measures to safeguard the mayor and his family.
Haunted History
Past occupants have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.
Chirlane McCray, the spouse of former mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that doors would sometimes open and closed by themselves, and the floors emitted odd sounds.
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "It doesn't matter what anyone says," he stated in 2022. "There are ghosts in there, man."
Affordable Housing Lifeline
Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilized, which means the city regulates on how much landlords can raise the rent each year.
Tenants view rent-stabilized housing as valuable lifelines as the price of rent exceeds the average income.
Data indicated Mamdani his rent was $2,300 each month for his apartment.
According to the property website Zillow, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.
