Plans by pop star Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce to enhance privacy at their $5.35 million Ohio mansion are facing renewed scrutiny, with their proposed boundary wall set for review by a local board. Despite objections from some residents, a neighbor has claimed that the couple enjoys more community support than suggested by the controversy.
In an interview with Page Six before the latest community meeting, a resident of Bratenahl, Ohio—the lakeside village where the couple own property—stated that most locals were excited about the high-profile newcomers and did not share the anger expressed by a few neighbors. The neighbor, speaking anonymously, stated that "I think they're excited... I don't think people are angry."
The controversy centers on the couple's plans for a privacy fence and landscaping changes at their lakefront residence. While the proposal has faced objections over its environmental impact and potential effects on neighboring properties, the resident insists that opposition is not representative of the entire village. The neighbor suggested that objections are primarily coming from homeowners living close to the property rather than the wider community.
The source also revealed that they have reached out to other members of the community ahead of the meeting, hoping to ensure Swift and Kelce do not feel unwelcome in their new neighborhood. "We don't want them to feel unwelcome," the neighbor said, adding that "the rest of the neighborhood will absolutely be supportive."
Bratenahl is a small, wealthy residential village located six miles east of downtown Cleveland, along Lake Erie's shores. The community spans approximately 552 acres and has around 1,200 residents. Meetings concerning the couple's property have attracted more attention than usual, with discussions about their landscaping plans drawing larger crowds and media coverage.
The privacy wall proposal has faced objections over potential impacts on local wildlife, particularly deer, as well as changes to existing vegetation and concerns about the removal of trees near a century-old shared sewer line. Neighbors Chuck Bauernschmidt and Katherine Bolton have raised these concerns, with Bolton warning of "catastrophic sewer backups" and claiming she had been quoted $75,000 to protect the pipe against potential damage from tree roots.
For now, the proposed privacy measures remain a matter for the local review process, while some neighbors continue to question the plans, others appear keen to welcome Swift and Kelce to their new community.