New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani will live in the Manhattan mansion that his predecessors have called home, leaving behind a rent-stabilised apartment that became the subject of heated debate during his campaign.
Gracie Mansion, which dates to 1799, has served as the residence for most New York City mayors since the World War II era. However, Mamdani, for whom affordable housing is a central issue, did not confirm he would live there immediately following his victory in November.
This decision came down to our family's safety and the importance of dedicating all of my focus on enacting the affordability agenda New Yorkers voted for, Mamdani said in a statement on Monday.
Mamdani lived in the Astoria neighbourhood in the borough of Queens. The area, home to many middle-class families, is famous for its abundance of immigrant communities and global cuisine.
To Astoria: thank you for showing us the best of New York City, Mamdani's statement said.
While I may no longer live in Astoria, Astoria will always live inside me and the work I do, he said.
During his campaign, Mamdani tied his core platform of freezing the rent to his own housing situation. However, his rivals, notably former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, criticized Mamdani for occupying the apartment despite coming from a prominent family. His mother is the filmmaker Mira Nair, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia University.
Not every mayor has chosen to live at Gracie Mansion. Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire entrepreneur, opted to reside in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side during his three terms, believing the mansion should serve public functions and pursued extensive renovations.
As Mamdani prepares to move into Gracie Mansion around his inauguration on January 1, he will encounter a markedly different ambiance than his modest Astoria home. With its butter-yellow paint, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion overlooks the East River and preserves decorations reminiscent of its original era.
The mansion is reported to have five bedrooms and enhanced security to protect the mayor and his family.
Some residents have reported supernatural occurrences at Gracie Mansion. Chirlane McCray, the wife of former mayor Bill De Blasio, claimed that doors would occasionally open and close by themselves. Meanwhile, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged in 2022, I don't care what anyone says; there are ghosts in there, man.
Mamdani's current apartment is rent-stabilised, meaning the city sets limits on how much landlords can raise the rent each year—a vital lifeline for many New Yorkers facing escalating housing costs. Records reveal that Mamdani paid approximately $2,300 (£1,725) monthly for his apartment, while the average rent for a one-bedroom in NYC is about $3,500 (£2,625).
