🔗 Share this article New York's next mayor states plans to make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani NYC's next chief executive, Zohran Mamdani, will opt to take up residence in the iconic Gracie Mansion, vacating the rent-stabilised apartment that became a focal point during his campaign. An Iconic Home Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has functioned as the primary dwelling for the majority of New York City mayors since the World War II era. However, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a key platform, was not quick to announce this decision promptly following his electoral win in November. "The choice rested on our family's safety and the need to dedicating all of my focus on enacting the affordability agenda New Yorkers voted for," stated Mamdani in his announcement. Thanking a Neighborhood He resided in the Queens borough of Astoria, an area famous for its diverse immigrant populations and global cuisine. "To my neighbors in Astoria: thank you for exemplifying the true spirit of New York City," he expressed. "Even though I'm moving in Astoria, it will always live within me and the work I do," he said. Campaign Controversy During his campaign, Mamdani linked his central policy – a rent freeze – to his personal living arrangements. However his opponents, most notably former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for remaining in the apartment although he came from a famous family. A House Not Always Used Some mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion. Michael Bloomberg, the business magnate, kept his residence in his private home on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his time in office, which wrapped up in 2012. Rather, Bloomberg said he believed it ought to be a venue for civic gatherings, and championed a major refurbishment of the aging mansion. The exterior of Gracie Mansion in New York City. A Vastly Different Setting When Mamdani moves into Gracie Mansion for his first day on 1 January, he will be surrounded by surroundings a stark contrast to his previous Astoria apartment. With its cream-colored walls, green shutters, and white railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River. Within, the ground 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 has increased security measures to protect the mayor and his family. Supernatural Speculation A number of people have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants. Chirlane McCray, the partner of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, once said that they experienced doors opening and shutting on their own, and the floorboards creaked eerily. Former Mayor Eric Adams was even more convinced. "No matter the skeptics say," he stated in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man." A Critical Policy Issue The apartment he is leaving is under rent control, which means the city imposes caps on how much property owners can hike the monthly cost each year. New Yorkers see such units as crucial resources as the housing expenses exceeds what many can afford. Data indicated Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment. Based on data from real estate analysts Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a studio or one-bedroom in New York City is $3,500 a month.