Zohran Mamdani’s new address is Gracie Mansion: The 200-year-old, $100 million home with a ‘ghost’

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji pose for photos after a press conference during moving day at Gracie Mansion on January 12, 2026 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and wife Rama Duwaji will move into Gracie Mansion, the historic mayoral residence on Manhattan’s East Side. Mamdani plans to make the mansion more accessible for public events, embracing its history, folklore, and civic symbolism.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji are preparing for a major change of address. The couple is set to move from their Queens apartment into Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence that has stood on Manhattan’s East Side for more than two centuries.

Overlooking the East River and steeped in history, the mansion is valued at around $100 million and comes with not just political significance but also a well-known piece of City Hall folklore involving a ghost.

A house older than the city it serves

Gracie Mansion is located at East 88th Street and East End Avenue in the Yorkville neighbourhood, inside Carl Schurz Park. Built in 1799 by merchant Archibald Gracie, the 12,855-square-foot Federal-style home began its life as a private residence before becoming part of New York’s civic identity.

The building officially became the mayor’s residence in 1942, when then-mayor Fiorello La Guardia moved in during World War II. La Guardia famously referred to it as New York’s “little White House.”

While most mayors have chosen to live there, some, including Michael Bloomberg, primarily used the mansion for official events rather than as a full-time home.

Inside the historic mansion

Over the years, Gracie Mansion has undergone several restorations to preserve its character while accommodating modern civic needs. A major expansion in the early 1980s added the Susan E. Wagner Wing, allowing the space to host large receptions and public functions.

Despite the updates, many historic elements remain intact. The interiors feature original fireplaces, antique furnishings and architectural details dating back to the 1800s. One fireplace is linked to a long-standing legend that Alexander Hamilton was brought to the house after being mortally wounded in his duel with Aaron Burr.

The ghost of Gracie Mansion

The mansion’s age and storied past have also fueled tales of the supernatural. Last month, outgoing mayor Eric Adams joked publicly that the residence is haunted, offering a tongue in cheek warning to his successor.

“It’s a friendly ghost, as long as you’re doing right by the city,” Adams said. He added, “If you don’t do right by the city, he turns into a poltergeist.”

The comments revived long-running City Hall lore about unexplained sounds and sightings inside the mansion, stories that have circulated among staff and officials for decades.

A home for the public

Mayor Mamdani has embraced the symbolism of the residence, describing Gracie Mansion as “a home that belongs to the people.” He has pledged to make the historic house more accessible by opening it up for public visits, community gatherings and civic events.

As he prepares to move in, Mamdani inherits not just a stately home but a landmark that reflects New York’s political history, architectural heritage and enduring sense of character, ghost stories included.