Pete Davidson and Colin Jost have bought an old Staten Island ferry boat
The pair, in partnership with Manhattan real estate broker and comedy club owner
Paul Italia, spent $280,000 to purchase a boat that most ride for free.
Italia, who spoke exclusively to the Post on Thursday, said the trio had “grand plans”
for the ship.
“The idea is to turn the space into a live entertainment event space, with comedy,
music, art, et cetera,” he said.
“We’re in the early stages, but everybody involved had the same ambition — not to
see this thing go to the scrapyard,” Italia said.
As it sits, however, the ship won’t even move under its own power.
The New York City
ship up for auction, said the John F. Kennedy had been recently decommissioned due
to mechanical issues.
Read Also:Breaking: Daniel Kretinsky is in advanced talks to buy a 27 percent stake in West Ham
As the auction winner, Italia has 10 days to get the vessel out of the St. George Ferry
Terminal, DCAS spokesman Nick Benson told the Post.
Italia said plans were being made to tow the ship by tugboat to a local shipyard,
where he plans to keep it while a long-term location is found.
“We’re talking to a lot of shipyards in the area,” he said.
Bidding on the nearly 60-year-old vessel began at $125,000 last week.
The proceeds from the $280,100 purchase will go to the city’s general fund.
The JFK, which was built in 1965, was auctioned off by the city and listed in “poor”
condition due to mechanical issues. It is structurally sound, the Department of
Citywide Administrative Services said.
As the auction winner, Italia has 10 days to get the 4.2 million pound vessel out of
the St. George Ferry Terminal, DCAS spokesman Nick Benson told the Post.
