Austin officials voted Nov. 5 to formally update the city's 10-year housing plan, creating a new framework to guide affordable housing construction and preservation from 2028-37. The update will replace the current Strategic Housing Blueprint, adopted in 2017 with a high-level goal of adding 135,000 housing units by 2027.

The details: The new planning effort is funded with $750,000 of a $6.7 million federal housing grant, using no city dollars. Key elements of the updated strategy will include:

• New goals for affordable housing development and preservation

• An updated Opportunity Map to guide housing placement in desirable areas

• A shift toward supporting deeper levels of housing affordability

• A focus on displacement and preserving naturally occurring affordable housing

• Housing strategies for specific populations, including the homeless, youth, students and domestic violence victims

A record number of Travis County voters cast ballots during early voting for the Nov. 3 midterm election, according to unofficial results from the Travis County Clerk’s Office. Voters cast 449,556 early ballots in person and by mail, or 47.39% of the county’s 948,567 registered voters.

The details: Including Election Day, 552,560 ballots were cast, putting unofficial turnout at 58.25%. That topped the 51.99% recorded in 2022 but trailed 2018’s 63%, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.

What’s next: Totals are unofficial until the canvass, which must be completed by Nov. 17. Runoffs for local races will be held Dec. 12, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Find results for local races at www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

White Lodging launched Hotel Trinity, a 14-floor boutique hotel in downtown Austin located at 311 E. Fifth St. The hotel features 258 guest rooms, including 20 suites and represents White Lodging's 13th hotel in Austin.

A ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 5 celebrated the opening, which brings the total downtown hotel room count to 16,000.

On the menu: The hotel's in-house seafood restaurant, The Yacht Club, also opened on Nov. 5, featuring a menu of raw and chilled seafood, pastas, plates and sides.

Learn more: Hotel Trinity features the Sundeck Social, a private rooftop social club for guests. Through a partnership with Antone's, the rooftop will host exclusive live music performances, starting with Texas-based musicians Chaparelle on Nov. 6.

A new fine-dining seafood restaurant is now open in downtown Austin, located inside the brand new Hotel Trinity.

On the menu: For dinner, The Yacht Club offers oysters, caviar, cocktails as well as seafood mains like the daily main catch. For those less inclined to seafood, other entrees include the glazed duck breast or bone-in ribeye.

The restaurant also offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dessert menus.

The details: Patrons will find moody lighting and fine-dining. The restaurant features private dining and a mezzanine.

The bar, located in the center of the restaurant, is decorated with an octopus mural. The mural also alludes to dishes featuring octopus that can be found on the menu.

Patrons can also see the raw bar, near the restaurant's entrance, showcasing oysters and more.

What happened: The Austin Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Austin Alliance celebrated the opening of the hotel and its features, including The Yacht Club, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 5.