Travis Kelce had always wanted to show Taylor Swift the city he grew up in. “Getting Tay back to Cleveland and showing her my roots is always something I love doing,” he had explained on his podcast. But when they finally purchased a 21,000-square-foot home in Bratenahl, the homecoming wasn’t exactly what they expected.
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While most in the neighborhood were excited to see the famous couple live in the area, there was one hiccup, one that caused a public official had to chime in and clarify the situation.
It started when news of the purchase first emerged last week, with over $5 million to buy the mansion. However, when the couple filed a permit to extend their fence, that’s when new reports began to emerge.
The fence plans have reportedly upset some neighbors because they are worried it could block their views of the picturesque lake. A source close to Kelce and Swift told DeuxMoi that the issue became serious enough for the couple and their neighbors to meet and discuss the plans and come to common ground.
The original plan reportedly included a fence reaching the beach, but that part was later dropped. The permit was rejected, and that’s when Bratenahl Mayor Keith Benjamin addressed how they have handled famous people before and know how to give them a sense of security.
“We’re used to this in Bratenahl,” Benjamin told The New York Times. “Being a welcoming community includes giving people the space to be at home, whether they’re an average resident or the most famous person in the world.”
The neighborhood has seen its fair share of celebrities. Wealthy individuals from Cleveland have long turned it into their summer escape. The Bratenahl Historical Society notes James Salisbury (creator of Salisbury steak), actor Jim Bacus, and former Cardinals owner Helene Hathaway Robison Britton.
The village has also had a connection to reality television. The New York Times reported that one of the homes in Bratenahl was featured on “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” In fact, the home Kelce and Swift purchased was initially built by industrialist Jay Morse.
That’s why it wasn’t a surprise when Benjamin explained the neighborhood’s stance on its more famous inhabitants.
“We take pride in being a welcoming community where people can feel connected to their lives and also feel comfortable enjoying their private lives,” Keith Benjamin told News 5. “You know, part of being a good neighbor is offering a warm welcome and also giving people the privacy and the space to simply be at home — no matter who lives next door.”
But the dispute itself has two sides. While one side believes that the fence would restrict access to the Lake Erie, there’s a very real security concern for the couple.
Kelce and Swift are constantly in the spotlight because of their fame, with Kelce being a three-time Super Bowl winner and local hero, while Swift has millions of fans worldwide. With fans and paparazzi likely to show interest in their new home, privacy and security are clearly important for both of them. More importantly, their attention to security comes from more than a few instances dealing with unwelcome guests.
Kelce moved to a more private Leawood mansion in 2023, hoping to get away from the attention around his old home, but that plan did not go as expected. On October 7, 2024, burglars broke into his Leawood home while he was at a Chiefs game.
Taylor Swift has also faced serious privacy and safety problems at her homes. Between July 2024 and May 2025, Brian Jason Wagner of Colorado repeatedly visited Swift’s Los Angeles home. Wagner was accused of stalking. Swift said the situation made her worried about her own safety and her family, and a restraining order was later issued against him.
Their new home is in Bratenahl, an upscale village on Lake Erie just outside Cleveland. It is a massive 21,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion sitting on 3.5 acres. With the couple now owning the property, it would not be surprising if they spend some of their offseason time there.
Furthermore, their purchase has already gone beyond simple neighborhood curiosity. According to a September 3, 2026 New York Times report, local dog walker Mary Kalan saw a group of teenage girls leaning out of a car window to take pictures of the property.
In any case, the Mayor’s response might ease tensions in the neighborhood, especially considering the amount of attention the couple living there will receive.