The neighborhood
Living in the Court Avenue District
Court Avenue is the old heart of downtown Des Moines. The buildings here sit on it, not near it, which is the whole point of the address. This page is the plain guide to the district and where the two buildings sit in it.
What the district is
The Court Avenue District, which the city and OpenStreetMap also label the Historic Court District, runs along Court Avenue west from the Des Moines River. It is downtown's original entertainment district: restaurants, bars and the Saturday Downtown Farmers' Market, inside a few blocks that keep the brick and the street grid they were built on. The Polk County Courthouse the avenue is named for stands a short walk north.
Downtown Des Moines sits between the Des Moines River on the east, the Raccoon River on the south, Center Street on the north and roughly 15th to 18th Street on the west, per the City of Des Moines. Court Avenue is near its south end, by the rivers.
Where the two buildings sit
Court Avenue Lofts is at 308 Court Ave and Market Place Lofts is at 312 Court Ave, across the street from each other. The Downtown Farmers' Market sets up on the same blocks on Saturday mornings in season. The Hy-Vee on Court Avenue is about 0.1 mile away, groceries and errands has the rest. Principal Park is 0.5 miles south and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park is 1.1 miles west.
Two buildings, one leasing team. How Court Avenue Lofts and Market Place Lofts differ explains the choice between them.
The city around it
Des Moines is Iowa's capital and largest city, with a population of 214,133 at the 2020 census. Downtown is the region's business center, so for many residents here the commute is a walk. Getting around downtown has the distances, and the things to do page has the weekends. Court & Marketplace rents one- and two-bedroom homes across both buildings, 308 and 312 Court Ave, with an in-unit washer and dryer in most homes and bulk internet included with rent. Live floor plans and today’s pricing are on the availability page.
Questions people ask
What neighborhood is Court & Marketplace in?
The Court Avenue District, also called the Historic Court District, in downtown Des Moines. Both buildings are on Court Avenue itself, at 308 and 312 Court Ave.
Is Court Avenue a good place to live in Des Moines?
It is downtown's original entertainment district, with restaurants, bars and the Saturday Downtown Farmers' Market within a few blocks. Whether that suits you depends on whether you want to be in the middle of it; the pages here lay out what is close in miles so you can judge.
How big is Des Moines?
Des Moines had a population of 214,133 at the 2020 U.S. Census, the largest city in Iowa and the state capital.
What is downtown Des Moines near the rivers?
Downtown sits between the Des Moines River on the east and the Raccoon River on the south, which meet near Principal Park. Court Avenue runs toward the Des Moines River at the district's east end.
City boundaries and the district name are from the City of Des Moines; population is from the 2020 U.S. Census. Distances are by road from 308 Court Ave, measured with OpenStreetMap routing, October 2026.
More about living here
- The Downtown Farmers' Market, out the door
- Parks and trails near Court Avenue
- Groceries and everyday errands downtown
- Eating and drinking on Court Avenue
- Getting around from Court Avenue
- Things to do downtown
- Court Avenue Lofts and Market Place Lofts: which is which
- The floor plans, explained
- The fitness center, business center and lounge
- Pet-friendly apartments on Court Avenue
- How to apply at Court & Marketplace
- Working from home on Court Avenue
- What residents say about Court & Marketplace
- The Court Avenue District guide
- All questions