Sylvester Stallone Upsets Neighbors with Plans for His $35M Palm Beach Mansion – Pics of His Home Life
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Sylvester Stallone’s waterfront dream in Palm Beach has hit a snag, but it’s not the waves causing trouble. The action star’s plan to install a floating barrier near his $35M estate has drawn unexpected pushback from his neighbors, who say they were caught off guard by the proposal.
Sylvester Stallone as seen in a post dated July 10, 2024 | Source: Instagram/officialslystallone
With questions about access to public waterways now at the center of the debate, the situation has sparked formal objections and the attention of state and federal regulators. The Stallones, who left California in search of a fresh start, shared their big decision on their reality series.
The Barrier Controversy: A Quest for Privacy Meets Unexpected Resistance
When Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, decided to leave California behind for a quieter life in Florida, they envisioned a fresh start by the water. Their move was documented on “The Family Stallone” reality series, where Stallone revealed to his daughters that he and Flavin would be making Florida their permanent home.
“After [a] long, hard consideration, your mother and I have decided [it’s] time to move on and leave the state of California permanently,” he explained. The couple had already purchased a $35.38M West Indies-style mansion in Palm Beach in 2020.
Sylvester Stallone’s daughters pictured outside their home, from a video dated April 11, 2023 | Source: YouTube/@paramountplus
The relocation marked a shift in the Stallone family’s lifestyle. Stallone and Flavin became empty nesters, after their daughters, Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet, moved out for college and other pursuits.
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“I raised all three of our daughters in California,” Flavin said during the episode. “Everything’s a memory to me, memories of them not being there anymore. So, I needed a big change, and Sly went along with it.”
Stallone’s next move was to apply for permission to install a floating barrier in the water next to his property. Officially, the purpose of the barrier, according to Stallone’s application, was to block seaweed and debris from washing ashore.
But public notices from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revealed an additional, more controversial purpose: to “exclude boaters” from accessing the waters near his estate. This dual intent raised questions from neighbors and prompted objections from the community.
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The barrier itself is a carefully engineered structure. Plans show it would stretch 191 feet south from Stallone’s dock. It would then make a sharp 90-degree turn to extend another 50 feet back toward the shore, forming an “L” shape. The floating portion would rise 8 inches above the water’s surface and reach 10 inches below.
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Six anchor piles would secure it to the waterbed, with nylon ropes and eyelets providing additional support. While the design allows marine life to swim under or around it, critics argue the primary goal is to block human access, not fish.
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The project was set in motion well before it became a public controversy. In 2022, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) conducted a site survey. By January 2023, Stallone’s financial representative, wealth manager Lester Knispel, submitted a formal application on behalf of Southpaw Trust.
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers followed with a public notice on October 24, 2023, allowing a 30-day period for public comment, which ended on November 24. Neighbors received formal letters from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection about the proposal, but the timing of the notice has raised concerns.
Sylvester Stallone pictured inside his home, from a video dated April 11, 2023 | Source: YouTube/@paramountplus
Privacy or Overreach?: Neighbors Push Back on Stallone’s Plans
The proposal has not gone over well with Stallone’s Palm Beach neighbors. Residents of the North End community say they were blindsided by the proposal, learning about it only after receiving formal notices from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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The notice, which arrived just before the holiday season, gave neighbors until Christmas Day to submit their objections, a deadline many feel was unfairly tight. One of the most vocal critics has been Bradford Gary, a nearby resident who voiced his frustration about the lack of communication from Stallone or his representatives.
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“Usually when your neighbors are gonna do something, we’ve found in Palm Beach, usually they call,” Gary said. For Gary and his wife, Susan, the surprise nature of the notice was enough to spark action. The couple filed formal objections with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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They also reached out to U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, voicing concerns that the barrier would set a troubling precedent for other waterfront properties. The Garys’ stance echoed that of other local residents, who argue that wealthy homeowners shouldn’t be allowed to privatize public waterways.
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With formal objections on file and regulatory agencies reviewing the application, the fate of Stallone’s barrier hangs in the balance. Stallone’s Palm Beach estate offers a glimpse into the luxury and privacy the actor sought when he left California.
The Stallones’ home as seen in a video dated February 12, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@mtvreality
A Look Inside Stallone’s Private Waterfront Retreat
Their Palm Beach home is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. The couple purchased the $35.38M estate in 2020 through Stallone’s Southpaw Trust. The West Indies-style mansion, located in the exclusive North End of Palm Beach, sits on a coveted stretch of waterfront property.
Jennifer Flavin, from a video dated February 12, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@mtvreality
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Sylvester Stallone with one of his daughters in their home as seen in a video dated February 12, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@mtvreality
With Stallone and Flavin now fully settled in Florida, their focus has shifted to making the estate the ideal home for their new phase of life. But, as the floating barrier controversy shows, creating a private haven on the water may come with unexpected challenges.
