Silver Hill Neighborhood Association

The Silver Hill Neighborhood Association met on March 9 at the Heights Community Center:

Board members present: Sara Beltran, Thomas Ocken, Eva Blaylock, James Montalbano, Jacob Lopez.

Others present: John Hudson, Judy Hudson, Michael Devin, Cas Stanczak, Brandi Thompson, Ryan Kious.

The Board got a presentation from Strong Towns Albuquerque, the local chapter of a national group, which advocates for affordable housing, and biking/walking/transit to balance out vehicle traffic. That includes urban infill over suburban sprawl. Michael Devin, a Gold Avenue resident of the neighborhood gave the detailed presentation with Brandi Thompson, a nurse by trade. 

Here are some of the campaigns the group is working on:  https://www.strongtownsabq.org/campaigns 

 

The Silver Hill Neighborhood Association met on April 13 at the Heights Community Center:

Board members present: Sara Beltran, Thomas Ocken, Don Fischer, Eva Blaylock, James Montalbano, Jacob Lopez, Emily Hill. Emily Hill

Others present: John Hudson, Judy Hudson, 

The main topic for discussion was the development of a social-media network to connect residents within the neighborhood. One option discussed was What’s App, which could offer real-time communication and also have sub-categories that neighbors could sign up for, or general announcements. Board member Sara Beltran volunteered to lead the project, including setting up a pilot group and make a presentation at a future Board meeting.

The Silver Hill Board met on Monday February 9th. 

Board members present: Eva Blaylock, Corey Stackhouse, Thomas Ocken, Eva Blaylock, Don Fischer, James Montalbano, Sara Beltran & Jacob Lopez

Others present: Tariq Green, Ryan Kious, Cas Stanczak, Michael Devin, Darryl DeLoach

The main idea of the night was how to create a digital social network to link residents of Silver Hill. The network could be used for standard announcements but also for more urgent matters as an alert system. The board agreed to look into options, including a SnapChat group.

A tour of neighborhood dumpsters is being planned with City officials from Solid Waste and Code Enforcement in order to get a handle on overflowing dumpsters and bins not conforming to code by being in the wrong place or missing lids. Dumpster fires have damaged property in the past.

Silver Hill held its annual meeting with a large turnout of residents and guests.

Board members present: Eva Blaylock, Thomas Ocken, Don Fischer, Emmy Hill, James Montalbano, Jacob Lopez

Residents and guests present: Ingrid Mahler, Sophie Wickert, Erik Rott, Joey Garcia, Mikayla Poe, Mary Ellen Crowe, Corey Stackhouse, Rose Rushing, Rocky Rushing Stackhouse, Ellen Cline, Jim Sattler, Jill Sattler, Rogelio Marquez, Thomas Ocken, Sara Beltran, Becki Jones, Greg Yazzie, Darryl DeLoach, Michael Devin, Daniel Hudak, John Hudson, Judy Hudson, Emily von Ancken, Angelica Romero 

Neighbors raised topics of concern, including:

• Dumpster maintenance and dumpster fire
• Tax credits for home improvements within the historical overlay zone
• Success of the Christmas Eve luminarias and plans for next year
• Pet waste
• Proposed changes to Lead and Coal
• A proposed conversation on the dangers of privacy invasion of license-plate readers

Three of seven seats were up for re-election. Two members re-elected were Eva Blaylock and Jacob Lopez & Sara Beltran (shared seat). Joanne Kuestner was not renominated. Her spot went to Rose Rushing & Corey Stackhouse (shared seat). 

Four members continue another year in their two-year positions: James Montalbano, Emmy Hill, Thomas Ocken and Don Fischer.

The Silver Hill Neighborhood Association will host its annual meeting next week:

WHEN: 7 p.m. Monday, January 12, 2026

WHERE: Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista Dr. SE

TOPICS:

• Election of Board Members
• Discussion of Goals for 2026
• Bring a neighbor and a topic to discuss!

The neighborhood came together on Christmas Eve to set up the luminarias, which lit up Silver Avenue from Sycamore to Yale. Thanks to all who helped. Here is a photo from the Christmas Eve display.

Board members in attendance: James Montalbano, Don Fischer, Thomas Ocken
Guests: Lindsay Wood, Darryl DeLoach, JB Gold, Michael Devin, Ellen Cline

Dumpsters: Some service has improved. Neighborhood will arrange a walk-through with Solid Waste to address issues with dumpsters at apartment complexes. They need to be on the property, with lids and picked up regularly.

JB Gold moved to the neighborhood recently to study at UNM. He has founded Celebrateabq.org. The group is doing pop-up markets on Yale north of Smith’s, on the vacant lot of the former dollar store. The goal is to make use of empty lots with plans to make permanent use of them someday. There are also monthly events in the Bricklight District.

Michael Devin talked about ideas under the Strong Towns rubric. A conversation delved into the issue of transition the City from cars to public transit, including lowering the requirements for parking spots for multi-unit buildings. That raised age-old concerns of crowding of cars vs. incentivizing the building of more multi-unit housing.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 13th, which is Indigenous People’s Day and which will require an alternative meeting location.

The Silver Hill Board will not meet in July. We will return on Monday, August 11 at 7 p.m. at the Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE. One topic will be traffic on the east end of Gold Avenue, with a visit from City officials.

Many residents of Silver Hill (on Gold and Silver avenues) are eligible for state tax credits that can reimburse homeowners for up to 50% of certain construction work and upkeep done on the home. The credit is applied to your New Mexico income tax.

University Heights to the east is seeking a similar Historic Overlay Zone, and they are hosting a clinic this Saturday, and they invite our neighbors to join in and get information about the state’s tax credits. Here are the details:

There will be a workshop on Saturday, May 17th 2025, at Bethany Hall, Monte Vista Christian Church, 3501 Campus Blvd NE to answer any questions. Come at noon to enjoy a light lunch and social time. At 12:30 pm Steven Moffson of the NM Historic Preservation Division will discuss the progress his office is making toward listing University Heights as a historic district which would make many homeowners there eligible for the tax credits.

At 1:00 pm Matt Saionz, with the NM Historic Preservation Division, will show how you can apply for the credits for renovating your historic house. Neighbors who have used the program will share lessons learned.

Some costs like additions, landscaping, maintenance, and demolition are not generally eligible. Work must be approved before it is started. This can take a couple of months.

Early consultation with coordinator Matt Saionz is critical. He can advise if your house is eligible and what work will qualify. You can reach him at (505) 827-4040 or matt.saionz@dca.nm.gov


Find more information at http://www.nmhistoricpreservation.org/programs/tax-credits.html

Residents have expressed concerns about the parkway construction along Silver Avenue and side streets by private contractors laying fiber-optic cable. Neither the residents nor the neighborhood association have gotten advance notice of the work, and there have been complaints citywide about property damage from the construction. Here is some information for residents:

The latest project is on Ash between Silver and Buena Vista. It is under the contract for Gigapower, one of three companies doing this work across the City.

Here is a link to the City’s website:
https://www.cabq.gov/technology-innovation/broadband-office/high-speed-fiber

If you have a complaint about damage to property, it is the responsibility of the company (not the City) to make residents whole.

Here is how to reach the companies:

Ezee Fiber: 505-539-4848
Gigapower: 505-420-5195 (currently in our neighborhood)
Vexus Fiber: 844-512-5022

A City representative is scheduled to attend our June 9 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE.

Here is a construction map:
https://www.cabq.gov/municipaldevelopment/maps/traffic-report

The City issued a Stop-Work Order against another company, Ezee Fiber, in response to construction concerns:

City announces new restrictions and requirements for fiber internet installation

ALBUQUERQUE – The City of Albuquerque is continuing to respond to resident concerns about damage and disruption that private internet service providers (ISPs) have caused during fiber broadband installation construction. A stop-work order was issued to Ezee Fiber after the company failed to address numerous concerns the City raised about Ezee Fiber’s compliance with its licensing agreement, including a substantial increase in complaints from residents. Ezee Fiber is one of three ISPs currently licensed to install fiber in Albuquerque, with Vexus Fiber currently on a stop-work order and Gigapower continuing construction.

The City will announce new rules that internet service providers will have to follow, making it easier to hold them accountable and minimizing impacts to neighborhoods.

Board members present: Emmy Hill, Eva Blaylock, James Montalbano, Thomas Ocken, Don Fischer.

Others present: John Hudson, Judy Hudson, Lindsay Wood, APD Lt. B. Johnson, Jessica Sapunar-Jursich, Daniel Hudak, Tim Keller, Angelica Archuleta-Romero

Mayor Keller dropped in unexpectedly and gave a state-of-the-city discussion, focused mainly on crime (he cited declining statistics) and efforts to increase housing to assist in the problem of homelessness. He answered questions from resident, focused mostly on those issues.

The Board discussed last-minute preparations for the Arbor Day Weekend celebration of the 20th anniversary of the replanting of the trees along Silver and Gold Avenues.

Jessica Sapunar-Jursich gave us an abbreviated presentation about the early stages of the City’s plans to reimagine Buena Vista as a safe street for bicycles and pedestrians. The project is in the planning stage and is welcoming ideas from residents about how to create a Bike Boulevard.