🔗 Share this article The Mayor-Elect states he will make his home in the iconic Gracie Mansion New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has decided to live in the historic Gracie Mansion, vacating his rent-controlled apartment that sparked debate during his election bid. A Historic Residence Built in 1799, Gracie Mansion has been the primary dwelling for nearly all New York City mayors after the World War II era. But, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a central platform, was not quick to announce his residency plans right away after his triumph in November. "My choice rested on the security of my family and the imperative to focusing all of my focus on carrying out the platform on affordability New Yorkers elected me on," stated Mamdani on Monday. Leaving Astoria Mamdani lived in Astoria, Queens, an area famous for its diverse immigrant populations and culinary diversity. "To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for showing us the true spirit of New York City," Mamdani's statement said. "Even though I'm moving in Astoria, the community will forever remain a part of me and my work," he added. Campaign Controversy During his race for mayor, Mamdani linked his central policy – halting rent increases – to his own housing situation. Yet his critics, most notably one-time governor Andrew Cuomo, challenged Mamdani for remaining in the apartment even though he is from a prominent family. A House Not Always Used Not all mayors have chosen to live at Gracie Mansion. Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, kept his residence in his own townhouse on the Upper East Side for his tenure, which wrapped up in 2012. In his view, Bloomberg argued it could serve as a place for public city functions, and pushed for an extensive renovation of the aging mansion. The outside of Gracie Mansion in New York City. A Vastly Different Setting Upon taking up residence at Gracie Mansion near his swearing-in on 1 January, he will find himself in a setting far removed from his previous Astoria digs. Featuring butter yellow paint, forest green window covers, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is a wedding cake of a house overlooking the East River. Internally, the first floor of the Federal-style mansion is decorated to reflect the home's original era. The compound, which allegedly has several bedrooms, also boasts fortified protections to secure the mayor and his family. Supernatural Speculation Some residents have alleged that Gracie Mansion also has ghostly inhabitants. Chirlane McCray, the spouse of ex-mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that doors occasionally opened and shutting on their own, and the floors emitted odd sounds. The departing mayor Eric Adams was adamant. "It doesn't matter the skeptics say," he declared in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man." The Value of Rent Stabilization His former home is rent-stabilized, which means the city sets limits on how much landlords can raise the rent each year. City residents see such units as essential protections as the housing expenses rises faster than the average income. Data indicated Mamdani paid about $2,300 each month for his apartment. Based on data from the real estate platform Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a single-bedroom unit in New York City is $3,500 a month.