On a chilly January morning in 2022, two Staten Island boys done good—Pete Davidson and Colin Jost—did something most New Yorkers could only dream of: they bought a piece of the city’s soul. The MV John F. Kennedy, a 57-year-old Staten Island Ferry that had ferried millions across New York Harbor, was theirs for $280,100 at a city auction. Teaming up with comedy club owner Paul Italia and architect Ron Castellano, the Saturday Night Live alums saved the decommissioned vessel from the scrap heap and set out to turn it into a floating palace of entertainment, dining, and maybe even a few hotel rooms. The Pete Davidson Staten Island Ferry project, as it’s been dubbed, is equal parts nostalgic love letter to their hometown and a wild gamble on a rusted icon. Here’s the full story, from the ferry’s gritty past to its star-studded present and uncertain future.
A Ferry Born in ’65
The MV John F. Kennedy wasn’t just any boat. Launched in 1965, it was the first Staten Island Ferry to run on diesel-electric power, a hulking 300 feet long with 65,000 square feet of interior space. It could carry anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 passengers, depending on who you ask, making it a floating town square for commuters shuttling between Manhattan’s Whitehall Terminal and Staten Island’s St. George Terminal. Named for the slain president, who’d campaigned at the borough’s ferry slips in 1960, the Kennedy was a symbol of civic pride. Its orange hull and utilitarian charm were as New York as a dollar slice.
By 2021, though, the Kennedy was showing its age. A massive engine room fire and chronic mechanical woes forced its retirement after 56 years of service. The city, ready to move on, put the ferry up for auction in January 2022, expecting it to be scrapped if no one bit. That’s when Davidson, Jost, Italia, and Castellano swooped in. Their $280,100 bid was a steal—Jost later told The New York Times it worked out to a fraction of Manhattan’s square-foot real estate prices. For Staten Islanders, it was a hometown flex: two local kids rescuing a piece of their borough’s history.
| MV John F. Kennedy Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | ~300 feet |
| Interior Space | 65,000 sq ft |
| Passenger Capacity | 3,000–5,000 |
| Commissioned | 1965 |
| Decommissioned | August 2021 |
| Purchase Price | $280,100 |
| Auction Date | January 2022 |
Dreaming Big on the Harbor
The plan wasn’t to let the Kennedy rust away in a dockyard. From the jump, the group envisioned a transformation that would make the ferry a destination, not just a relic. Ron Castellano, an architect with a knack for breathing new life into old spaces (think Nine Orchard Hotel), took the helm on design. In a March 2024 sit-down with Curbed, he laid out a vision that sounds like a New Yorker’s fever dream: six bars, two performance venues, two restaurants, 24 hotel rooms, and outdoor spaces for concerts or parties. The ferry’s midcentury vibe—think baby-blue Formica and pink accents—would stay, but with a modern polish to make it a viable business.
The price tag? A cool $34 million, according to Castellano. That’s a far cry from the $280,000 purchase, but the team sees it as an investment in a one-of-a-kind venue. Jost, who rode the ferry to high school at Regis in Manhattan, has talked about the emotional pull of saving something so tied to his roots. Davidson, never one to shy away from a quip, told The Wall Street Journal in December 2024 that the ferry was “the only thing anyone asks me about anymore.” For both, it’s personal—Staten Island runs through their veins, from Davidson’s semi-autobiographical The King of Staten Island to Jost’s ferry-themed wedding announcement with Scarlett Johansson.
A Slow Boat to Somewhere
Three years in, the Kennedy is still a work in progress. It’s been docked mostly at Caddell Dry Dock in West Brighton, Staten Island, a short tugboat ride from its old St. George Terminal haunt. The ferry’s engines are shot, so moving it requires hired tugs, racking up fees alongside docking and storage costs. Early reports whispered of asbestos and cockroach infestations, though Castellano’s stayed mum on those details. What’s clear is that turning a 57-year-old vessel into a floating hotel isn’t cheap or quick—renovations could take another two to three years.
Still, the ferry’s already making waves. On September 8, 2024, it played host to Tommy Hilfiger’s Spring 2025 New York Fashion Week show at Manhattan’s Pier 17, with Jost in attendance and Hilfiger calling it a “quintessential New York City landmark.” The boat’s also been a set for Screamboat, a horror flick slated for 2025, proving it can pull in cash even in its current state. These gigs are a lifeline, helping offset costs while the team chases funding. Davidson, ever candid, told The Tonight Show in January 2025 that the project needs “like, $100 million,” though he quickly added they’re closer than people think.
| Project Hurdles | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Budget | $34 million |
| Renovation Timeline | 2.5–3 years |
| Reported Issues | Possible asbestos, cockroaches (unconfirmed) |
| Ongoing Costs | Docking, storage, tugboat fees |
| Engine Status | Inoperable; requires towing |
The City’s Watching
New Yorkers love a good story, and the ferry’s got legs. When news broke in January 2022, it was catnip for the tabloids—Davidson and Jost leaned into the chaos, joking on SNL that they were “very stoned” when they bid. Johansson got in on the fun, teasing on Today about a GoFundMe for the “money pit.” Social media lit up too: the New York Post tweeted about the purchase on January 20, 2022, and Vulture ran a piece digging into the duo’s plans for an arts hub. The buzz hasn’t faded, especially after the Fashion Week coup.
Rumors have swirled about drama between Davidson and Jost, with some outlets claiming the project strained their friendship. Davidson shut that down on Today in January 2025, saying, “Me and Colin are good—we talk all the time.” The real tension seems to be logistical: securing funds, navigating city regulations, and keeping the public’s interest while the ferry sits idle. Architectural Digest got a peek at Castellano’s designs, which promise a sleek blend of retro and modern. Even The Today Show wants to broadcast from the boat, a sign it’s still got cultural juice.
Where Will It Dock?
The Kennedy’s final resting place is still up in the air. The team’s tossed around ideas like a permanent Manhattan berth or a roving “carnival” model, hitting ports from New York to Miami. Jost, a diehard New Yorker, wants it to stay local, telling Curbed there’s nothing like being on the water in the city. Castellano’s been cagey about specifics but hinted at negotiations with city officials for a sweet docking deal. The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, which oversaw the auction, has no say in the ferry’s future but confirms the sale was legit.
Fanciful ideas—like a floating pool or Jacuzzi—are on the table, though Castellano admitted to Vulture that a pool might be a stretch. For now, the ferry’s earning its keep with events and rentals, buying time until renovations kick into high gear. The goal is to open one floor at a time, a pragmatic approach Davidson emphasized in his Wall Street Journal chat.
Staten Island’s Heartbeat
For Staten Islanders, the ferry’s more than a boat—it’s a lifeline, a symbol of the borough’s scrappy pride. Davidson and Jost get that. Saving the Kennedy wasn’t just about making headlines; it was about preserving a piece of home. The ferry’s potential as a hotel, concert venue, or dining spot could put Staten Island on the map for tourists, not just commuters. Jost, who’s waxed poetic about the ferry’s views of the Statue of Liberty, sees it as a way to share that magic. Davidson, with his trademark bluntness, just wants to “not screw this up.”
As of April 2025, the MV John F. Kennedy sits quietly at its dock, a sleeping giant waiting for its next act. It’s a long way from its commuter days, but the dream—fueled by two Staten Island kids and a lot of New York hustle—is alive. Whether it’s hosting fashion shows or slasher flicks, the ferry’s already proving it’s got stories left to tell. And in a city that never stops moving, that’s something worth betting on.
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