FAQs

What’s a good place to eat in the Portola?

Check out all the options here.

What’s a good way to meet Portola neighbors?

What does the PNA do?

The PNA is made up of Portola neighborhood volunteers who want to keep our business district healthy, vibrant, green and beautiful and, through their personal involvement and labor, support the San Bruno Avenue businesses. https://www.portolasf.org/projects
How can I join the PNA Board?

PNA Board terms are two years and require attending monthly meetings, a minimum of four to eight hours of work per month, and active participation. Please send an email to hello@portola.org to let the PNA know you are interested in serving.

How do I bring my concerns to the PNA?

Neighborhood concerns are best brought to our local supervisor. You can contact Supervisor Hilary Ronen at Ronenstaff@sfgov.org. 

PNA projects are managed by volunteers such as yourself. We welcome volunteers for current projects. If you are interested in spearheading a new Portola project, please email the PNA at hello@portola.org and describe your idea and how many hours you are ready to commit to your project.

What does the PNA’s San Bruno Avenue Corridor Manager do?

The Corridor Manager is an independent contractor paid for through a grant from the San Francisco Office of Economic & Workforce Development (OEWD). In keeping with the requirements of the grant, the Corridor Manager:

  • Works with Portola business merchants, property owners, and community members to improve the business community

  • Assists individual businesses with referral to city and technical resources

  • Facilitates and manages improvement projects (e.g., mural installations)

  • Works closely with the PNA to leverage and secure city resources

What concerns can I bring to the PNA Corridor Manager?

The PNA Corridor Manager assists Portola business owners to access city resources. Examples include:

  • Facade improvement grants

  • Accessing small business grants and no-interest loans during Covid-19

  • Connecting with other business owners along the corridor

  • Partnering with building owners to install art murals 


Can I volunteer for the PNA?

The PNA would love to work with you! Please fill out this form and we will contact you OR drop in at PNA Portola Garden Club Work Day https://www.portolasf.org/events

How can I get help opening a business in the Portola?

  • Email our Corridor Manager, Valerie Luu

How can I contact Valerie Luu, the PNA’s San Bruno Avenue Corridor Manager?

How can I advertise my vacant commercial property?


Where do I get a Portola tee-shirt?


How can I donate to the PNA?

https://www.portolasf.org/donate

How can I get help with installing a mural on my commercial property? 

https://www.portolasf.org/murals

Can the PNA please do something about the parking on San Bruno Avenue?

Limited parking is a frustration for all city dwellers. San Francisco is committed to public transportation and the PNA’s grant money focuses on connecting local businesses with city resources, including making public transportation accessible and effective along San Bruno Avenue. Research has shown that walkable business districts served by public transportation create healthy communities. For these reasons, the PNA is not focused on parking issues.


If you have ideas for a project that addresses parking on San Bruno Avenue, and would like information on how to spearhead your idea, please email the PNA at hello@portola.org and we will try to connect you to organizations that can assist you.

How do I report double-parking in the neighborhood?

Reporting double parking to 311 will provide the City with vital statistics to bring increased parking enforcement to our Portola neighborhood. With an ongoing community effort, we can make San Bruno Avenue a safer place for all. Read our guide on how to report double-parking to 311.

When is the SFPD Bayview Police Substation open?

The Bayview Substation is open every Saturday at Portola Family Connections (2565 San Bruno Ave) from 12-3pm and is staffed by San Bruno Avenue beat cops Officer Ng and Officer Gong.

How should I pronounce “Portola”? 

https://www.kalw.org/post/how-many-bay-area-place-names-have-you-been-mispronouncing#stream/0

What is the history of the PNA?

The all volunteer PNA has been around in earlier forms since 2006 when the San Bruno Avenue Merchants Association (SBMA) helped establish the all volunteer Portola Neighborhood Steering Committee in collaboration with Bay Area LISC’s Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative program (NMI), which targets commercial corridors in low-income communities with lack of services, safety issues, or poor physical appearance. 

Under NMI, Bay Area LISC and the City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) collaboratively created the position of and funded a full-time corridor manager to support community driven projects. These projects focused on areas including streetscape improvements, transit projects, community policing, façade rehabilitation, graffiti removal and street-cleaning, festivals and district promotions.

Quickly, the organization transitioned into a more active role and, through voluntary and open participation of both merchants and residents, held community meetings and coordinated large-scale community events. In 2012, the steering committee voted to change the name of the volunteer organization to Portola Neighborhood Association (PNA) and transitioned again to its current iteration which actively seeks grants that serve merchants, residents, and the community at large. Among its many activities, the PNA supports Portola merchants, establishes and maintains greening projects along the Avenue, and installs art murals and other beautification efforts.

What is the history of the Portola?

https://www.portolasf.org/history-portola