Topeka Downtown Post Office

A downtown Topeka landmark with a long history will see new life as an office and residential building after its recent purchase. The former five-story post office building at 424 S.

Kansas Ave., which turned 90 years old in 2022, was purchased Aug. 25 by Ken Schmanke and business partner Patrick Ellrich through their company 424 QOZB LLC. Falk Architects will be the Achitect for this project. The building will house apartments and condominiums, along with office space. The property will offer "unique, urban lifestyle living" in downtown Topeka. A portion of the first-floor of the building continues to be leased to the U.S. Postal Service.

The historic downtown post office building was constructed in 1932 and until 1976 housed the federal district courtroom where portions of the Brown v. Board of Education case were heard.