Cleveland had been on Shannon Williams’ mind for some time before he moved here from Atlanta in January.
Having lived in Atlanta, Georgia, for 34 years, Williams was met with disbelief when he told his family and friends he was moving to the 216.
“They’re like, ‘Why Cleveland? You travel the world and why did you end up in Cleveland?’ But I had been here for some political campaigning with presidential election in 2004, 2008 and 2012 and I liked the vibe of the city,” says Williams, who is director of programs for the Society of International Business Fellows, which has about 1,700 C-level executives in 46 countries.
A planner in his remote job and a lover of the lock-and-go lifestyle, Williams says he did an extensive amount of research before coming to look at places to live in the city. His research led him to explore the Residences at 55.
“I like the urban lifestyle and here you are in the heart of the city — Public Square,” says the 57-year-old. “I like the location here (at Residences at 55) because you’re close to the Warehouse District, you’re close to the Flats, and I can still walk over to Playhouse Square. The property management staff here was terrific. They were very patient with me. I probably looked at about eight or 10 until I finally chose the one that worked best for my lifestyle.”
Exploring the sights and sounds of a new city has been good for his soul, Williams says.
“In second-tier cities like Cleveland, there’s opportunity here for people to attract remote workers and other people who are looking for a city with a little bit lower cost of living,” he adds. “From my two-bedroom apartment (that cost the same as a one-bedroom in Atlanta) I can overlook Terminal Tower right out my window every night.”
