Decommissioned Staten Island Ferry to become a $34 million traveling hotel
On Thursday, 21st January 2022, Saturday Night Live stars and prodigal sons of Staten Island Colin Jost and Pete Davidson together with a group of investors purchased a Staten Island Ferry that had been recently decommissioned. The group paid $280,000 for the 277-foot John F. Kennedy, (named after the 35th President of the United States) - a 57-year-old ferry capable of carrying some 3,500 passengers.
The ferry named after John F. Kennedy transported commuters between the New York City boroughs and Staten Island from 1965 for 56 years until it was taken off service in 2021. At the time of its retirement, it was the oldest boat on the fleet, where the boats operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The free ferry is renowned for its cost-free transportation service, where one can get a free view of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline.
Initially, as news of Jost and Davidson boat project surfaced two years ago; their plan was to convert the vessel into New York’s hottest club. However, while the ferry remains docked in Staten Island right now, plans have since changed, with the 300 foot long, 65,000 square feet slated to undergo a $34 million renovation that would feature multiple bars, restaurants and a hotel.
In all, there will be six bars and two venues that can be operated separately or combined, a furnished patio top deck, 24 hotel rooms with sundecks and two clubs spaced across the lower levels. What is still undecided though is to whether there will be a pool, although there would be a Jacuzzi.
Once completed, the owners plan for the floating hospitality-entertainment space to travel between multiple locations including New York City and Miami.
What will emerge is a floating barge that could be taken to different areas and docked – subject to building code regulations.
But there’s been tough sailing since then.
In late 2022, it was reported that the project has been plagued by hidden costs. It’s estimated that refurbishing and mooring the ferry will take years and potentially hundreds of millions of dollars, the news outlet reported.
Jost during an appearance on “Late Night with Seth Myers” had poked fun at the project’s financial woes, saying that the ferry would be dubbed “Titanic 2.” But Paul Italia, a comedy club owner who was part of the group that bought the boat, was not amused and said the claims are “garbage information.”
Source: External
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