A historic community in the heart of Albuquerque — learn about who we are, who leads us, and where we come from.
The story of Huning Castle begins with one man's ambition and a city on the cusp of transformation. Franz Huning, a German immigrant, arrived in New Mexico in 1849 after making the arduous journey down the Santa Fe Trail. By 1852 he had settled in Albuquerque's Old Town, where he built a thriving mercantile business alongside his brother Charles and became one of the city's most influential citizens.
Huning's greatest contribution to Albuquerque came in 1880, when he partnered with Elias Stover and William Hazeldine to form the New Town Company — working in concert with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to secure Albuquerque as a major division point on the line. That same April, the partners platted the Huning Highlands Addition: Albuquerque's very first planned residential subdivision, offering tree-lined streets and graceful lots just east of the newly established New Town.
At the heart of this vision was Huning's own home. Between 1881 and 1883 he built a grand 14-room mansion using more than 250,000 terrones — sod bricks cut from a nearby meadow — and appointed it with furnishings including a Steinway grand piano and a pipe organ. Styled after the castles of his European homeland, the residence captured the imagination of everyone who saw it. Neighbors began calling it simply "Huning Castle," and the name never left.
After Franz Huning's death in 1905, the castle served various purposes, eventually operating as a school before being condemned and demolished in 1955. The building is gone, but its spirit endures in the streets, homes, and community it helped create.
Today the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association stewards one of Albuquerque's most historically rich communities. The Huning Highlands Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, recognizing the area's architectural character and cultural significance. With deep roots and an active, engaged association, Huning Castle remains what Franz Huning always intended it to be — a beautiful, welcoming place to call home.
Adopted by the Board of Directors on January 10, 2024.
Section 1.1 — Name: The name of this corporation is the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association.
Section 1.2 — Address: The corporation office is located within the Huning Castle neighborhood of Albuquerque NM.
Section 1.3 — Boundaries: The exterior boundaries of the area covered by the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association are Central, the west side of 14th Street, Coal, Alcalde, Tingley, Laguna and San Pasquale together with the area commonly known as the Albuquerque Country Club.
Section 2.1 — Purpose: The purpose of the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association is to preserve and enhance the neighborhood located adjacent to the downtown area in the Huning Castle Addition of the City of Albuquerque so that the quality of life in this area is in keeping with the social, environmental, culture and historic needs and interests of the residents. Dues, fees, and donations shall be used to accomplish the purposes listed above.
Section 3.1 — Membership: There are two types of memberships in the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association: regular and business.
Section 3.2 — Regular Membership: Any person who is a resident of, or who owns property within the boundaries of, the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association is eligible to become a regular member.
Section 3.3 — Business Membership: Any person or legal entity who operates a place of business within the boundaries of the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association is eligible to become a business member.
Section 3.4 — Voting: Members are each entitled to one (1) vote.
Section 3.5 — Dues: Dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and are payable at the annual meeting, but the Association may accept late payment of dues in its discretion. Dues accrue yearly as follows: $25.00 per household or $40.00 per business membership. Payment of dues is not a prerequisite of membership or voting rights in the association. Members may contribute if they choose.
Section 3.6 — Meetings: Regular meetings of the general membership shall be held at such times as approved by the Board of Directors. The association shall hold at least one annual general meeting a year in May, or at a time approved by the board of directors based upon exigent circumstances. The May meeting shall be known as the annual meeting. The Board will make a reasonable attempt to give written notice of the annual meeting at least two weeks in advance by email, via its Facebook page, or by a large sign placed prominently within HCNA's boundaries, to all households and businesses located within the association's boundaries. If the Board determines an item must be voted on by the membership outside of the annual meeting, members will be given advance notice as set forth above. Each member participating will be afforded the ability to vote using at least one of the following methods: in-person, mailed paper ballot, or electronic means (except that elections held at the annual meeting must be voted on in person).
No item shall be voted upon at the annual meeting unless it has been publicized as required by the City's Neighborhood Association Recognition Ordinance (NARO). Notice of the annual meeting will be given to the City's Office of Neighborhood Coordination (ONC).
Section 3.7 — Annual Report to Office of Neighborhood Services: An annual report must be submitted to the Office of Neighborhood Coordination within 60 days following the annual meeting of the association.
Section 4.1 — Board of Directors: The business and property of HCNA shall be managed and controlled by a Board of Directors that may exercise all the powers of the association, and conduct all acts not prohibited by statute, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws.
Section 4.2 — Election: The Board of Directors shall be elected in person annually by a vote of the general membership, or in a virtual format if deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. Directors elected at the annual meeting of the corporation shall hold office until expiration of the term to which they are elected, except as hereinafter otherwise provided for filling vacancies.
Section 4.3 — Number: The number of the Board of Directors shall be twelve (12), but such number may be increased or decreased by amendment of the Bylaws. One third of the Board changes each year. The term of office is three years and there is no limit to the number of consecutive terms served. The term of office of any officer shall be extended after the third year of any term until the election of officers at the next regularly scheduled directors meeting.
Section 4.4 — Qualification: To qualify to become a member of the Board of Directors a person must reside within the boundaries of the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association.
Section 4.5 — Resignation: Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors.
Section 4.6 — Vacancies: Any vacancy in the Board of Directors occurring during a year, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors made by the Board of Directors, may be filled by the directors then serving by affirmative majority vote. Any director so elected by the Board of Directors shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the members of the corporation and, if elected, will serve the remaining term of the position vacated.
Section 4.7 — Annual Meeting of the Board: Within thirty days (30) of each annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of the election of officers and transaction of any other business.
Section 4.8 — Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the Board of Directors are held on the second Wednesday of each month. The date and frequency of those regular meetings may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.9 — Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or Secretary on the written request of any member of the Board of Directors. In the discretion of the President, a vote may be taken by email on any issue before the Board.
Section 4.10 — Notice of Meetings: Notice of all directors' meetings shall be given by emailing the same to directors at least three days prior to the meeting or by telephoning the same at least one day before the meeting, but such notice may be waived by any director.
Section 4.11 — Attendance: Directors are expected to make all reasonable efforts to attend all regular and special Board meetings. A director's unexcused absence from three consecutive meetings of the Board may be grounds for removal from the Board. Any removal action may be considered by the Board at the first regular meeting following the three consecutive absences.
Section 4.12 — Responsibilities: Board members are responsible for rendering reasonable assistance in carrying out the goals and objectives of the Association as stated in the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws. The assistance rendered shall be in terms of service as a Board of Directors officer, special representative or liaison, or a committee or sub-committee member. Board members shall be expected to put forth both personal time and effort to assist in the organization and execution of special events or projects. Further, since the Board members are representative of the residents of the neighborhood, each is responsible for disseminating information about the Association goals and activities and presenting the views of the residents to the Board as a whole.
Section 4.13 — President: At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the President or Vice President, or in their absence, a chairman pro-tem chosen by the directors present, shall preside.
Section 4.14 — Quorum: At all meetings of the Board of Directors, six directors shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors may act upon approval of a majority of the quorum. Voting by proxy shall be allowed upon written assignment of a director's proxy to another present director; however, proxies shall not be used to achieve a quorum.
Section 4.15 — Compensation: Directors shall not receive any compensation for their services.
Section 4.16 — Protection from Liability: Pursuant to New Mexico §53-8-25.3, no member of the board of directors shall be held personally liable for any damages resulting from: (1) any negligent act or omission of an officer or director of the corporation; (2) any negligent act or omission of another officer or director of the corporation; or (3) any action taken as a director or any failure to take any action as a director unless: (a) the director has breached or failed to perform the duties of the director's office; and (b) the breach or failure to perform constitutes willful misconduct or recklessness. This immunity shall not extend to acts or omissions of any director of the corporation that constitutes willful misconduct or recklessness personal to that director. This immunity is limited to actions taken as a director at meetings of the board of directors, or a committee of the board of directors, or by action of the directors without a meeting. The corporation shall not transfer assets to avoid claims against corporate assets resulting from a judgment against the corporation. If a director votes to do so, the immunity provided by New Mexico law shall have no force or effect as to that director.
Section 4.17 — Powers: All corporate powers, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation, and the laws of the State of New Mexico, shall be vested in and exercised by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may by majority vote delegate to committees or to officers of the corporation such powers as they see fit.
Section 4.18 — Removal of Directors: Any director may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Board of Directors attending any regular or special meeting called for that purpose for conduct detrimental to the interest of the corporation, its objectives, or for refusal to render reasonable assistance in carrying out its purposes. Any such member, officer, or director proposed to be removed must be provided five (5) days' written notice by mail or email of the meeting at which their removal is to be voted upon and is entitled to appear before and be heard at such meeting.
Section 5.1 — General: The officers of the corporation are President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary and such other officers as may from time to time be appointed by the directors. The officers shall be elected by the directors from among their numbers at their first meeting following the annual meeting of the membership for terms of one year.
Section 5.2 — President: The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the directors and shall be an ex-officio member of every standing or temporary committee of the corporation. He or she shall execute all contracts and other instruments of writing binding the corporation and, subject always to the direction of the directors, shall exercise such authority and perform such duties as the directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 5.3 — Vice President: In the event of the death, absence, incapacity, inability or refusal to act of the President, the Vice President shall possess all the powers and perform all the duties of the President, and shall do and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.4 — Secretary: The Secretary shall have charge of such books, documents, and papers as the Board of Directors may determine. The Secretary shall attend and keep the minutes of all the meetings of the Board of Directors and members of the corporation, and may sign, with the President or Vice President, in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, any contracts or agreements authorized by the Board of Directors, and when so authorized or ordered by the Board of Directors, may affix the seal of corporation. He or she shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, and shall do and perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Secretary by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.5 — Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have supervision and custody of all monies and securities of the corporation; shall cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of the receipts and disbursements of the corporation and books belonging to it; shall cause all monies and valuable effects to be deposited in the name and to the credit of the corporation and in such accounts and depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors; shall disburse and supervise disbursement of the funds of the corporation in accordance with the authority of the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers therefore; shall render to the President and Board of Directors at regular meetings or whenever the President or the Board of Directors require, an account of any transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation, and shall perform such other duties as the President or the Board of Directors may direct and such other duties as usually pertain to the office of Treasurer.
Section 5.6 — Consolidation of Offices: Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Treasurer. The Board of Directors may delegate some or all the functions, duties, powers, and responsibilities of any officer from whom such responsibility has been transferred to other members of the Board of Directors.
Section 5.7 — Vacancies: Vacancies occasioned by the death, resignation, incapacity, or removal of officers of the corporation, shall be filled by a majority vote of the directors at the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, and such person or persons so chosen to fill such a vacancy or vacancies shall serve until the next annual election of officers.
Section 5.8 — Removal: Any officer elected or appointed by the directors may be removed at any time by affirmative vote of the majority of all the directors of the corporation.
Section 6.1 — Agents and Representatives: The Board of Directors may appoint, retain, and compensate agents or representatives of the corporation with powers to perform acts or duties on behalf of the corporation as the Board of Directors may see fit, so far as may be consistent with these Bylaws and to the extent authorized or permitted by law.
Section 7.1 — Committees: The Directors of the corporation may create and designate one or more committees or sub-committees on behalf of the membership. Each committee or sub-committee may include one or more directors. Said committees and sub-committees shall have and exercise all powers granted to them by the directors who approved the formation of such committee(s).
Section 8.1 — Stock: The corporation shall not have nor issue shares of stock.
Section 9.1 — Fiscal Year and Audit: The fiscal year of the corporation shall close on April 30 of each year. It shall be the option of the directors, prior to each annual meeting, to appoint a competent accountant to examine and audit all the books, records, checks, vouchers, and accounts of the corporation. Such accountant shall make a written report to the directors, which report shall be submitted to the annual meeting. Such accountant may receive reasonable compensation from the corporation for their services if approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 10.1 — Amendments: The Board of Directors shall have the power to make, alter, amend, and repeal the Bylaws of the corporation upon the affirmative vote of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the board at a regular or special meeting of the board.
The Huning Castle neighborhood occupies the heart of central Albuquerque. The general boundaries of the association are:
A detailed boundary map will be added here. Contact a board member if you have questions about whether your address falls within the association's boundaries.