Downtown Topeka Apartments for Rent

The Downtown neighborhood of Topeka is vast, a swath of land from the Kansas River to Southwest 21st Street. Its eastern boundary is Southeast Banner Trafficway and the western border is Southwest Topeka Boulevard.

Within its boundaries are homes spanning the growth of the city, from small cottages to elegant mansions. Many of Topeka’s most notable sites are here, too. The area is served by public transit and is quite pedestrian-friendly, with sidewalks connecting most parts of the neighborhood.

The center of state government, the Capital, is in the Downtown Topeka neighborhood. It is also the central district for county and city government. Downtown entertainment includes the Topeka Performing Arts Center, which brings national celebrities such as Jerry Seinfeld and B. B. King.

The Expocenter is nearby, too. This is where Topeka’s hockey team, the RoadRunners, plays. The Expocenter also hosts the city’s largest concerts and events. Frequent equestrian events are held on the Expocenter grounds as well.

A large shopping area – Fairlawn – lies just west of the Downtown neighborhood along 21st Street. The multi-block area includes Target, a large grocery store, pharmacy, and numerous specialty shops. There is also a Maximus gym at Fairlawn. Only a few blocks west of Fairlawn is West Ridge Mall, with several department stores and a theater complex.

A National Historic Site within the Downtown neighborhood marks the Brown v. Board of Education case. Monroe Elementary School was one of the schools involved in the landmark school desegregation decision. The site houses many exhibits related to the civil rights movement and often has special events.

Just a few miles southeast is Lake Shawnee offering year-round recreational opportunities. Downtown residents can easily access much larger Perry State Park, a few miles northeast.