Mayor Mamdani Trades Queens Apartment for Historic Gracie Mansion

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji began moving into the city’s official mayoral residence Monday, swapping their modest Queens apartment for the grandeur of Gracie Mansion in a transition that highlights the stark contrasts of New York City living.

As movers unloaded cardboard boxes filled with houseplants and rolled up carpets at the historic residence, Mamdani addressed reporters on the mansion’s sprawling riverfront lawn.

“Today, Rama and I feel lucky to participate in a ritual that so many New Yorkers have experienced at various meaningful moments in their lives: Beginning a new chapter, by moving to a different part of the city that we call home,” Mamdani said.

The relocation represents a dramatic upgrade for the 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor. He’s leaving behind a $2,300-per-month one-bedroom apartment in Astoria that lacked basic amenities like a washer and dryer, and suffered from recurring flooding issues due to faulty plumbing.

His new accommodations at Gracie Mansion offer 11,000 square feet of living space, complete with a private chef, an ornate ballroom, and a veranda overlooking the East River. The historic home also features the original fireplace where Alexander Hamilton died following his infamous duel with Aaron Burr. According to former Mayor Eric Adams, the mansion is also home to at least one ghost.

Since 1942, when the Federal-style mansion was officially designated as the mayoral residence, nearly all of New York City’s mayors have lived there at least part-time. The custard-colored 18th-century home stands as a stark symbol of the city’s political power center.

Aware that the move might seem at odds with his populist platform, Mamdani addressed the apparent contradiction head-on during his remarks. He emphasized that security requirements factored significantly into the decision to relocate from Queens to the Upper East Side mansion.

Looking toward the future, Mamdani pledged to make the historic residence more accessible to everyday New Yorkers. “We plan on opening it up to New Yorkers who are not often the ones who get to visit such a place as this,” he said. When asked about potential changes to the historic property, the mayor mentioned an “aspirational hope” of installing bidets in the bathrooms.

For Mamdani, the move represents a return to Manhattan, where he spent much of his childhood in a Columbia University-subsidized apartment on the west side of Central Park. His father works as a professor at the prestigious university.

During his time in the state legislature, Mamdani established his political base in Astoria, a diverse and relatively affordable section of Queens that has developed a reputation for electing progressive officials. The neighborhood, sometimes referred to as “the People’s Republic of Astoria,” is also represented in Congress by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Before departing his former neighborhood, Mamdani released a heartfelt statement expressing how he would miss “the endless Adeni chai, the spirited conversations in Spanish, Arabic and every language in between, the aromas of seafood and shawarma drifting down the block.”

His new Upper East Side neighborhood presents a stark demographic contrast. The area ranks among New York City’s wealthiest communities and is nearly 75 percent white. While Mamdani won his former Astoria district by an overwhelming margin in the mayoral election, his opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, carried the Upper East Side by double digits.

The political and cultural divide between Astoria and the Upper East Side reflects the broader diversity and contrasts that define New York City. However, long-time Upper East Side resident Zoe Cuddy believes her community will welcome the new mayor. Walking her cockapoo in a park adjacent to the mansion, the neuropsychologist described her neighborhood as “the suburbs of Manhattan” and predicted a warm reception for the city’s newest high-profile resident.

“I think we’ll grow to be happy to have him here,” she said.