Highways, Growth & Gentrification: The Changing Face of Austin and American Cities

3:15 PM - 4:00 PM

Saturday, November 16

Texas Tent presented by Texas Monthly

As American cities expand, rapid urbanization and sprawling infrastructure projects reshape their landscapes, creating profound consequences for residents and communities. In this panel, Megan Kimble, author of City Limits, and Alex Hannaford, author of Lost in Austin, explore the impact of urban highways, gentrification, and the tension between progress and preservation. Kimble investigates how highways have divided cities, exacerbated inequality, and displaced communities, with a particular focus on Texas cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Hannaford takes a deep dive into the transformation of Austin, once known for its affordability and vibrant creative scene, now struggling with rapid growth, skyrocketing property values, and a vanishing cultural identity.
  • Books: Lost in Austin: The Evolution of an American City, City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America's Highways
  • Book Type: Non Fiction
  • Authors: Alex Hannaford, Megan Kimble
  • Moderator: Dan Solomon
  • Book Signing: 4:15 PM at Main Signing Tent