Astoria goodbye! Zohran Mamdani set to move into NYC Mayor’s historic mansion

Mamdani,who made affordable housing a key issue during his election campaign, had initially refrained from indicating whether he would move into the mayoral residence after his victory. However, he confirmed the decision in a statement posted on X on Monday.

“This decision came down to our family’s safety and the importance of dedicating all of my focus to enacting the affordability agenda New Yorkers voted for,” he said.

Until now, Mamdani had been living in the Astoria neighbourhood of Queens. In his statement, he expressed emotional attachment to the community.

“To Astoria: thank you for showing us the best of New York City,” he wrote. “While I may no longer live in Astoria, Astoria will always live inside me and the work I do.”

The mansion, located in Manhattan, was built in 1799 by a wealthy merchant, Archibald Gracie, and has since become an iconic symbol of the city’s mayoral office.

Mamdani had earlier faced criticism for residing in a rent-stabilised apartment despite earning an annual salary of $142,000. According to records cited by the BBC, he paid around $2,300 (£1,725) per month in rent for the apartment.