About the BID
A public-purpose institution for a connected district.
Who we are
The Soul of the City BID is the primary institution responsible for coordinated place management across the district.
The Soul of the City BID serves a connected three-neighborhood district encompassing commercial areas across Congress Heights, Washington Highlands, and Bellevue. Each neighborhood has its own history, assets, institutions, commercial patterns, and community identity. The BID’s role is not to flatten those differences, but to strengthen the connections among them—providing consistent stewardship while tailoring services, investment, and activation to the distinct needs of each place.
Our history
From Organizing to Institution
The Soul of the City BID grew out of years of place-based organizing, coalition-building, and community-development work led by the Congress Heights Partnership and its partners. That work created the foundation for a formally authorized Business Improvement District serving Congress Heights, Washington Highlands, and Bellevue. Today, the BID is the primary institution responsible for coordinated place management across the district.
Read the full history ↗Our purpose
A clearer way to care for place.
The Soul of the City BID works with residents, businesses, property owners, institutions, community organizations, developers, investors, and public partners across Congress Heights, Washington Highlands, and Bellevue to advance cleaner, safer, more active, and better-invested commercial corridors.
Our vision is a connected district in which Congress Heights, Washington Highlands, and Bellevue each benefit from sustained stewardship, thriving local businesses, responsible investment, strong community institutions, and commercial corridors capable of supporting opportunity for current and future generations.
Our philosophy ↗The Soul of the City Business Improvement District was developed and sponsored through the longstanding organizing and community-development work of the Congress Heights Partnership.