Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s proposed updates to their $5.35 million Ohio home have sparked local debate, with one neighbor predicting the couple’s marriage will end within a decade. The revised landscaping design, approved Tuesday by the Bratenahl Architectural Review Board, calls for three-meter-tall shrubs to create privacy, though objections from residents centered on ecological effects and the project’s perceived excess.
The board’s decision came after a heated town hall where neighbors argued over the couple’s plans. One resident dismissed the renovations as wasteful, suggesting the property would become a timeshare and sold in seven to 10 years when the divorce happens. He continued, “This effort that’s being put in for Taylor Swift, I think for a property that’s pretty much going to be a timeshare and sold in seven to 10 years when the divorce happens, I think it’s ridiculous,” prompting boos from the 35 people in attendance.
Environmental concerns dominated much of the discussion. Lucy Weller, who lives just three doors away, warned the shrubs would disrupt local wildlife and urged the couple to use native plants instead. Chuck Bauernschmidt, a neighbor two houses down, questioned whether the design complied with local rules, describing the area as a “forest” and criticizing the board’s approval.
Not everyone opposed the changes. Vasiliki Diamantis, another local resident, defended the couple, encouraging the village to support its new high-profile neighbors. The board ultimately gave the project the green light, which also includes updated brickwork and the installation of the privacy shrubs.
Swift and Kelce did not attend the meeting, instead delegating their house manager, environment architect and project manager to handle the presentation. The mansion, which Kelce purchased in March, already boasts premium features like a private cinema, wine cellar, fitness center, and a repurposed Prohibition-era speakeasy now used as a games room. The couple has faced similar resistance before, including a September dispute over a proposed privacy fence, which was later reduced to 1.8 meters in height.
The Ohio property adds to the couple’s extensive real estate portfolio, which includes homes in Kansas, New York, Tennessee, Rhode Island, and Beverly Hills. Despite the mansion’s privacy-focused upgrades, reports indicate it will not serve as their main residence.
