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:
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.
Join in for an Arbor Day event on Silver Avenue on the last Saturday of April.
We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the replanting of the trees along Silver Avenue and Gold Avenue. We will gather outside 1701 Silver at Pine from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday April 26. Come for music, treats and a reunion of some of the people responsible for the project that reforested Silver Hill from Yale to Sycamore.
Details here:
Email C4.25×5.5
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.
