Kelly Blandford used to live in San Francisco. Ed Whitman spent 30 years in Miami. Blu Lewis was a Pittsburgh resident.

This year, fate has brought all three to apartment living in downtown Canton, an area newly vibrant with restaurants, art galleries and nightlife.

"I'm a very happy camper down here," Ed Whitman says about his new downtown pad on Sixth Street NW, across the street from St. John's Catholic Church.

"The apartment is wonderful. It's a very comfortable unit in a very comfortable building. The building is circa 1924, with unique historical touches. Apartments weren't all cookie-cutter back then," he says. "There's been outstanding renovation efforts by King Properties."

"Downtown Canton is a gem," he says. "I love all the historic buildings, the layout of the city and the preservation. It's very, very comfortable, and very, very creative. Just an overall really good vibe."