Appleford Estate in Villanova is one of our township's beautiful historic resources. From the gracious home to the utterly fabulous gardens, it's a real gem.

Except not according to some crabapple who lives next door. Except does he really live next door or is he just another developer/real estate speculator who happens to own a property next door who is suing Appleford and/or the township? And what gives with this gent? It's not like Appleford appeared overnight. He purchased the property knowing that this property was next door, and purchased this property knowing there were weddings there.

The thing is this: Appleford has MANY STRICT rules in place. You can't just have a 20 piece amplified rock band, actually, we think you can't have amplified music...there are rules, rules, and more rules...and the estate has strict hours of operation.

This developer is a big sourpuss who just might ruin the Appleford experience for other residents and visitors, so we say SHAME ON HIM! PLEASE JUST GO AWAY!

Also, do not people who live in these new McMansions also not entertain? Are they quiet as church mice? We say every Lower Merion resident and every bride or group who has hosted a party or wedding at Appleford needs to support Appleford Estate on this one! What sour grapes on the part of this developer person!

Wedding crasher or the victim of circumstances?
Neighbor claims noise at Appleford Estate exceeds limits set in township code
By Cheryl Allison

It isn't exactly wedded bliss between a neighbor and Lower Merion Township's historic Appleford Estate in Villanova.In fact, if the property owner has his way, the handsome colonial mansion will be divorced from its long tradition of hosting weddings, receptions and other celebrations.

Last October, Wayne Geftman and Associates, whose principal is a developer of custom estate homes on the Main Line and nearby, filed suit against the township and the Appleford Committee, the volunteer organization that manages the property.

More recently, in February, Geftman filed a petition seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the activities.

Geftman, who owns a two-acre property at 742 Mount Moro Road that is the closest of several residences in the area to Appleford, alleges in the suit that noise from parties–music and amplified announcements, often until as late as 10:30 at night–exceeds limits set in township code and creates a "continuing nuisance" that "materially interferes with and is a substantial invasion of [his] use and enjoyment of the property."

He also alleges that the type of activities being held in the house and in the gardens at Appleford violate provisions of the will under which the 22-acre property was donated to the township, and amount to a commercial operation that is not permitted in its residential district.