The neighborhood
Downtown Des Moines and the Court District
Harbach Lofts is at 300 SW 5th St, in the Court District at the south end of downtown Des Moines. This is where the building sits, what is around it, and how far, in miles.
Where the building sits
The Court District is the oldest neighborhood in Des Moines, the blocks between the Des Moines River to the east and the Polk County Courthouse to the west. The courthouse is 0.3 miles from the door on foot. A short way south, the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers meet, and Principal Park sits by the confluence, 0.4 miles away.
Harbach is a converted furniture factory from 1906, two brick warehouses now holding loft homes. The history page has that story.
What is around it
Court Avenue, the district's restaurants and bars, is 0.4 miles away. The downtown Hy-Vee at 420 Court Ave is 0.3 miles, and the Downtown Farmers' Market sets up on Court Avenue 0.4 miles away on Saturday mornings from May through October. The Greater Des Moines Partnership runs the market and publishes the current dates and hours.
The East Village, across the river, is 1.1 miles, and the Iowa State Capitol is 1.5 miles. The downtown guide has the full table.
Getting around
Most of downtown is walkable from here. DART Central Station, the hub for Des Moines buses, is 0.3 miles away, and the Principal Riverwalk along the Des Moines River is 0.6 miles. In the building there is secure bike storage with a repair stand. Harbach Lofts has studios, one bedrooms and two bedroom homes, from 427 to 1,103 square feet, each with a full-size washer and dryer and an updated kitchen inside the original 1906 shell. Live pricing for every open home is on the availability page.
Questions people ask
What neighborhood is Harbach Lofts in?
The Court District, the oldest neighborhood in downtown Des Moines, between the Des Moines River and the Polk County Courthouse. The courthouse is 0.3 miles away on foot.
Is Harbach Lofts walkable to downtown?
Yes. Court Avenue is 0.4 miles on foot, the downtown Hy-Vee 0.3 miles, and DART Central Station 0.3 miles.
How far is Harbach Lofts from the river?
Principal Park, by the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, is 0.4 miles away, and the Principal Riverwalk is 0.6 miles.
How far is the Iowa State Capitol from Harbach Lofts?
1.5 miles by the walking route, east across downtown.
Distances measured by the walking route from 300 SW 5th St, October 2026. Court District and market facts from the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the City of Des Moines.
More about living here
- Parks and trails near Harbach Lofts
- Groceries and errands near Harbach Lofts
- Eating and drinking near Harbach Lofts
- Commuting from Harbach Lofts
- Things to do near Harbach Lofts
- The courtyard at Harbach Lofts
- The library and reading room
- The Rook Room at Harbach Lofts
- Floor plans at Harbach Lofts, explained
- How to apply at Harbach Lofts
- Working from home at Harbach Lofts
- What residents say about Harbach Lofts
- The downtown Des Moines guide
- All questions