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Austin's evolution extreme makeover style.

Jay Janner, an esteemed photographer, has spent two decades capturing Austin's evolution through his lens. His striking before-and-after photos reveal the city's transformation.

Published August 21, 2024 at 6:01am by Jay Janner

Austin, a City in Flux: How 20 Years of Change Created a New Skyline

Few American cities are as sensitive to change as Austin, yet it remains vulnerable to transformation. In just two decades, neighborhoods have been swallowed by rapid development, with once-familiar areas becoming unrecognizable. https://www.austin360.com/things-to-do/music/article/Check-out-these-Austin-music-venues-15279217.php

"Where am I?" is a common refrain, as longtime residents and visitors alike struggle to orient themselves amidst the forest of skyscrapers that now define the city's core. https://www.statesman.com/news/20220727/in-austin-a-new-skyscraper-could-eclipse-them-all-but-not-without-a-fight

Despite the upheaval, award-winning photographer Jay Janner captures the enduring memories and dramatic developments of Austin's physical evolution: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/online-only/2014-04-24/before-and-after-downtown-austin/.

Barton Springs, the city's heart, remains a magical icon, as drone footage testifies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOYHfpMSK6U.

Words fail to capture the shift from diminutive districts to high-rise havens. West Campus and Rainey Street are now unrecognizable, while raw pastures have given way to Tesla's "gigafactory," Q2 Stadium, and the Circuit of the Americas' race track. https://www.statesman.com/news/business/tesla-austin/article/Tesla-is-already-making-cars-at-its-Texas-factory-16013973.php

Austin's physical environment has drastically changed, yet its essential human culture persists, a testament to the city's resilience.

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