Pete Davidson and Colin Jost buy old Staten Island ferry boat
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New York’s hottest club could be … a Staten Island ferry.
“Saturday Night Live” stars and Shaolin natives Pete Davidson and Colin Jost are behind the mysterious purchase at auction of the John F. Kennedy, a decommissioned 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 vessel.
“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.
New York Mayor Eric Adams tweeted his support for the idea on Friday morning.
“I love this idea,” he wrote. “What a great way to give an NYC icon a second life. Let us know how we can help and we’ll be there for the maiden voyage.”
As it is, however, the ship won’t even move under its own power.
The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, which put the ship up for auction, said the John F. Kennedy had been recently decommissioned due to mechanical issues.
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.
Davidson, caught on video visiting his new toy on Friday, told a passerby that the ship would be towed to Gowanus, where it would receive “a bunch of work.”
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.
Built-in 1965, the JFK was the oldest ferry in the Staten Island fleet when it was retired last August due to mechanical failures in two of its engines. It is structurally sound, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services said.
Both “SNL” stars hail from the borough, which received the nickname “Shaolin” from the Wu Tang Clan.
Davidson grew up in Great Kills and still lives in the borough, where he entertains A-listers like romantic interest Kim Kardashian and New Year’s Eve co-host Miley Cyrus.
Jost hails from Grymes Hill and shares several area homes with wife and “Black Widow” star Scarlett Johansson.
Davidson often pokes fun at his native borough on “SNL” and starred in the feature film “The King of Staten Island,” a story loosely based on his upbringing.
Jost frequently makes the island the butt of his jokes on the “Weekend Update” anchor desk, and his birthplace plays a large role in his autobiography, “A Very Punchable Face.”
A spokesperson for Jost declined to comment on Friday. Davidson did not respond to requests for comment.
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