the city of philadelphia purchased the adjacent lemon hill property in 1844, which was turned into a public park. by setting aside open space along the river, philadelphia hoped to better protect the city's water supply. a group of wealthy residents sought to expand the park to include the sedgeley property, and they organized a fund to help achieve that. though, the fund was short of the $70,000 needed, so through use of eminent domain, the city of philadelphia paid the $45,000 balance and acquired the sedgeley property in 1857. the house was demolished a short time later, and the land is now part of fairmount park.