Renderings Of Cook Children’s Redevelopment Of Former Carnival

Sources have sent in the first rendering and site plan for the redevelopment of the former Carnival on 8th Avenue in Fairmount by Cook Children’s, and I’ve actually got some good news about the project. While the existing suburban-style layout isn’t going away, unfortunately, and the building’s definitely not going to be winning any beauty contests even after redevelopment, Cook Children’s has decided to try and mitigate the site’s shortcomings with an extensive landscaping and screening makeover.

As seen in the site plan, the blank wall at the rear of the building will be dressed up with new Chinkapin Oak trees. The exposed loading dock on Allen will be enclosed with a gated ornamental fence. The unfortunate front parking lot will be encircled by a new 16″ high curb, in front of which will be new landscaping consisting of Asian Jasmine, Sherwood Abelia, Dwarf Yaupon Holly, and Red Yucca. Sidewalks around the site will be improved, and new Dynamite Crapemyrtles will be planted in sidewalk planters around the site. Finally, new streetlights will be installed around the site as well.

While it’s still going to be an unattractive suburban site plan, the changes will at least dress the site up somewhat, divide off the parking lot with a physical separation, and improve the streetscape with new trees and lights. If the building and site plan have to stay so suburban, rather than a more urban new construction with parking to the rear that I’d personally prefer to see, at least they will be improved. Kudos to Cook Children’s for at least making the effort to improve the existing conditions.

And incidentally…

My source tells me that Cook Children’s originally wasn’t planning to make such extensive site improvements. The changes shown above came about because of people of influence reading our original post on the project and the discussion that followed. It’s not just me reading your comments - our discussions here can have real impact. Thank you to all of you, and keep it up!