Silver Hill Neighborhood Association

Board members present: Thomas Ocken, Sara Beltran (Jacob Lopez), James Montalbano, Don Fischer, Emmy Hill
Neighbors present: Justin Ruth, Rose Rushing, Corey Stackhouse, Daniel Hudak, Sue Oldenburg
Guests present: Lindsay Wood, Nob Hill News; Angelica Romero, mayor’s liaison

The Board discussed an Arbor Day event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the re-planting of trees on Silver Avenue. The date of April 26, 2025, was confirmed. Several board members will finalize details, such as food, invitations/fliers and a possible tree giveaway. VIPs and other guests will be contacted. The event will be based at 1701 Silver (at Ash) and include the medians. Plaques or certificates may be arranged to present to those who were responsible for the project in the early 2000s.

Residents brought up more complaints about overflowing dumpsters and fires being set by transients. The Board will endeavor to have a presentation from Solid Waste to address these ongoing concerns.

Board members present: Eva Blaylock, Thomas Ocken, Sara Beltran (Jacob Lopez), James Montalbano, Joanne Kuestner, Emmy Hill
Neighbors present: Justin Ruth, Rose Rushing, Corey Stackhouse, Daniel Hudak
Guests present: Laura Kuehn, APD crime prevention; Mike Power, Kirtland AFB and Joey Power; Lindsay Wood, Nob Hill News; Angelica Romero, mayor’s liaison

The Board discussed an Arbor Day event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the re-planting of trees on Silver Avenue. The date of April 26, 2025, was chosen. We will explore music and food options. We should have details set at our March 10 meeting. Sara Beltran will contact Tree New Mexico about the possibility of a tree giveaway at the event.

The Board discussed 1701 Gold, which is seeking to be added to the MRA in order to gain tax breaks as part of the City’s redevelopment program that runs along Central. The issue will come up before the ABQ Development Commission at its February 20th meeting.

The Board heard a presentation from Mike Power, commander of Kirtland AFB. Among the events, he talked about an open house at the AFB at the end of May.

Laura Kuehn offered advice on crime prevention and answered questions about preventing property crimes.

The Silver Hill Neighborhood Association held its annual meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Board members in attendance: Eva Blaylock, Thomas Ocken, James Montalbano, Jacob Lopez, Don Fischer. See below for the rest of the attendees.

The meeting featured a presentation from Maria Wolfe on the latest updates on homelessness in Albuquerque. Here are the slides from her PowerPoint presentation:
https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/documents/shorter-housing-homelessness-cc-jan-2025.pdf

The presentation generated a conversation about homeless issues in Silver Hill. Residents’ concerns focused on the crime and nuisances associated with those living on the streets. One resident offered assistance to homeless people in the form of $5 mini-blankets and glass alcohol-fueled heaters that would cut down on fires.

Several neighbors expressed concerns with dumpsters. Some suggested that property owners should have to lock them overnight. The Board will follow up with Solid Waste to make sure dumpsters are getting serviced regularly and that they have lids. Concerns persist about fires in dumpsters, in addition to people going through them and scattering garbage on the streets.

Also in attendance was a representative from Albuquerque Police Department, Lt. Andrew Herpolsheimer, who offered advice on dealing with trespassers and intruders.

Board elections were held. Three members were re-elected to two-year terms: James Montalbano, Thomas Ocken, Don Fischer. Board member Judy Hudson did not stand for re-election. Her spot was taken by Emily Hill, who was elected unanimously. Board members whose terms continue for one more year are Eva Blaylock, Jacob Lopez and Joanne Kuestner.

Other SHNA residents in attendance: Diego Lopez, Liam & Lilly Andrus, Isaac Fox, Kelly Craig, Dana Craig, Sue Oldenburg, Corey Stackhouse, Rose Rushing, Emily Hall, Whitney Meeder, Justin Ruth, Ingrid Mahler, Jill Sattler, Jim Sattler, Ellen Cline, Chris Banks, Anna Rutins, Jennie Hinson, Sandra Roth, Greg Yazzie, Rebecca Jones, Mark Nolan, Sara Beltran.

Guests in attendance: Maria Wolfe (City Homeless office), Angelica Romero (Mayor’s liaison), Lt. Andrew Herpolsheimer (APD), Lindsay Wood, Chris Pine (USPS)

Silver Hill NA will hold its annual meeting:

7 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2025

Heights Community Center,
823 Buena Vista Dr. SE

Key topics:

– Election of Board Members
– Discussion of Homeless issues with City’s top administrator
– Crime Update from APD rep from UNM Area Command

Bring a topic to discuss! Bring a friend or loved one.

The December meeting was back at the Heights Community Center.

Board members present: Eva Blaylock, James Montalbano, Tom Ocken, Don Fisher, Judy Hudson

Others present: John Hudson, Daniel Hudak, Lindsay Wood, Chris Burnett and Anjelica Romero (Mayor’s liaison)

Tom Ocken gave a presentation on luminarias for Christmas Eve. We have enough bags on hand but would have to buy about $250 in candles. Sand is free. He has arranged for block captains for most blocks. Christmas Eve is on a Tuesday. Those present expressed support for going forward with the event.

Chris Burnett is a host of the podcast Ten-Drink Minimum, which he has hosted for nearly 20 years, gaining a following not only across Albuquerque but around the world. He lives Downtown and led a conversation about life downtown, touching on such issues as business retention, parking, homelessness and crime. It was a wide-ranging discussion. The podcast airs live from 5 to 7 each Sunday and is available afterward on most podcast platforms.

Lindsay Wood lives in Spruce Park and is visiting area neighborhood associations in anticipation of starting a Nob Hill newsletter, based on the model of Downtown Albuquerque News.

Board members present: Eva Blaylock, James Montalbano, Tom Ocken, Joanne Kuestner
Others present: Jim Satler, Jill Satler, Ellen Cline, Kristelle Siarza Moon

For the second month in a row, because of a holiday closing of the Heights Community Center, the group met at Differential Brewing on Yale.

Luminarias were discussed. There is no funding to hire out the job this year. There was interest in returning to having neighbors set up the luminarias on Christmas Eve this year.

Kristelle Siarza Moon gave a presentation. She is the CEO of the marketing firm Siarza. She talked about ways that residents can work with businesses to strengthen neighborhood bonds, especially as a way of supporting the businesses along Central Avenue in Silver Hill, University Heights and Nob Hill.

Board members present: James Montalbano, Judy Hudson, Thomas Ocken, Eva Blaylock, Joanne Kuestner
Others present: John Hudson, Daniel Hudak, Xochitl Campos Biggs, Joel Hobbs, Claranita Williams

John and Judy Hudson discussed a spate of crime issues on the east end of Silver Avenue

The Board had a detailed discussion about homelessness with Xochitl Campos Biggs, the Chief Policy Adviser for Albuquerque Police Department. A trained social worker, Campos Biggs provided deep insight into the causes of homeless, including addiction and mental illness, and possible ways to address the ongoing concern.

Board Members Present: Eva Blaylock, James Montalbano, Thomas Ocken, Judy Hudson
Guests Present: Avi Lahiani, Daniel Hudak, Angelica Archuleta Romero (mayoral liaison), John Hudson

The Board decided to postpone its planned 20th anniversary celebration of the re-planting of the Silver Hill trees in 2004-05 until next spring, perhaps in late April around Arbor Day.

Avi Lahiani gave a presentation about his plans to finalize the purchase of 1400 Central SE (at Sycamore) and convert it to offices/apartments. The first floor would be office space. The second and third floors would hold a total of 24 apartments, a mix of studios, one-bedroom units and two-bedroom units, all leased around market value. No zoning changes are requested. Parking space is adequate for the property, he reported. He hopes to close on the property soon and bring drawings to the city for approval. The building has been closed for years and gutted by scavengers.

The Board will have to find an alternate location for the October 14 meeting due to the City holiday.

Tom Ocken gave an update on 2005 Silver, which has a sliding door in violation of the historic overlay zone and which apparently had been taken over from the owner (who lives in the northeast heights), with locks changed and piles of garbage outside. Neighbors and the owner worked with the police and solid waste to secure the building and carry away the trash.

Board members present: Joanne Kuestner, Tom Ocken, Judy Hudson, Eva Blaylock, Don Fischer, James Montalbano
Others present: John Hudson, Angelica Archuleta-Romero (mayor’s liaison)

Tom Ocken reported that there was no update regarding two nonconforming properties on the east end of Silver, one with a sliding-glass door in front and the other with a front wall higher than 3 feet. He urged that we contact Leslie Naji at the city to have postcards sent to new or all residents reminding them of the restrictions in the Historical Overlay Zone.

Judy Hudson warned of a dangerous dead tree at Silver and Buena Vista.

The Board brainstormed ideas for a 20th anniversary celebration of the reforestation of the medians along Silver Avenue. The Board chose October 19th at 3 p.m. for an event featuring a band, a food truck and recognition of those who were instrumental in making the tree replacement a success in 2004. The Board will iron out details about the event in the coming weeks. Tom Ocken will work on a flier for the event. A late September cleanup will get ready for the event.
The next meeting will be Monday, September 9th.

The Board met outside the Heights Community Center, which was closed for maintenance.

Board members present: Eva Blaylock, Tom Ocken, Judy Hudson, Don Fischer, James Montalbano

Others present: John Hudson, Ellen Cline, Josh Rogers of Titan Development with his colleagues Ian Robertson and Matt Lammers

Titan Development gave a presentation on the latest plans for the lots on the north side of Central across from Presbyterian Hospital. The group plans a second hotel, a Residence Inn (featuring suites), fronted by a food market along Central that was described as falling somewhere between the Sawmill and the 505 downtown. Titan scaled back the development. The hotel is five stories, not six. And the food court will not have a second story or rooftop garden. The hotel and food market will have limited parking. Titan’s previous hotel development, the SpringHill streets directly to the west, has shown that many guest use ride-shares, and there is less call for parking. Titan will next appear at a hearing seeking a tax abatement on June 20th. Ground-breaking is planned for October, with food market expected to be open in 12 months and the hotel in about 18 months.

Tom Ocken alerted the board to two potentially non-compliant construction projects on the east end of Silver Avenue. There are new sliding-glass doors in the 2000 block of Silver and a front wall higher than 3 feet in the 2100 block. Leslie Naji at City Planning has been alerted, and she is looking into the potential violations of projects that might not comply with the Historic Overlay Zone restrictions in Silver Hill.

A water bandit is hitting the neighborhood. Someone is turning on outside hoses and letting them run. One backyard was flooded, causing potentially thousands of dollars in damages and a water bill in excess of $300. Be on the lookout.

Board member Sean Matney (VP and Secretary) has stepped down from the board due to family and work commitments. That brings the board down to 7 members, the allotment called for in the updated bylaws.

There will be NO MEETING in JULY. The next meeting will be August 8, 7 p.m. at the Heights Community Center on Buena Vista.