With most of the community and its services either inside of or connected to the building, residents are able to remain inside the building for long periods of time if the weather is inclement, or they simply do not want to leave. Built by the US Army in the 1950s, BTI originally housed officers and their families, and though its concrete walls have since been given a cheerful paint job, the fortress-like, institutional feel remains. And you always have someone to talk to.". He is also the only officer who lives in town. Some easily adjust and stay for 20+ years. The community here, it's so nice that you don't really ever feel sad. Required fields are marked *. Copyright 2023 Alaska Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. There are 198 units, and in the bottom of the building is the police office, a gym, the city clerk's office and a store. Theres no money in it, she says, but its nothing to me and its a big deal for them, so what the fuck, why not blow their skirts up?. the old jail, complete with bars on both bedroom doors, steel bunks hanging from the wall, three authentic bullet holes in the walls and window sill, plus a front view of the city, small boat harbor, and Prince William Sound. Surrounded by cascading waterfalls, with views of an inlet filled with whales, otters and puffins, tucked below a rocky mountain vista sits the Begich Towers. Even a school called Whittier School is connected to a tunnel on the ground floor of the West tower so students can walk to school without going out in the cold during winter. Next to the school and towers is the indoor playground (pictured), which protects kids from the elements year-round. When the second largest earthquake in recorded history leveled much of southern Alaska in 1964, the 14-story Cold War relic was one of few structures to survive. Powered by Indiatimes Lifestyle Network. This has earned Whittier the nickname of a "town under one roof".[1]. For the rest of the 1960s, Whittiers population fluctuated between forty and seventy people. The building was designed in 1953 to host the headquarters of the US Army Corps of Engineers. In the 1950s the Army began construction on BTI (then called the Hodge Building) and another barracks, the Buckner Building, which was built for enlisted men. Parents dont have to worry about kids and traffic at the indoor playground. Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam? The 2.5-mile Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which was converted from railroad use, alternates the flow of traffic every fifteen minutes. "It's important to be here for the right reasons," said Lindsey Erk, who moved here from South Dakota to teach. "The law says you can't have drugs within 500 feet of a school; there's not a unit in this building that's 500 feet from the school, but we have the right-to-privacy issue.". Gain valuable insight into the Whittier AK community by looking at household incomes, crime risk, education levels attained, and the potential for extreme weather. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. Karen Dempster, who owns two units in the building, an attorney and a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, helped write a grant, which will pay for several upgrades to the building. The structure is notable for being the residence for nearly the entire population of the town, as well as containing many of its public facilities. Grounds are kept in excellent condition. Business development is a challenge, as there is very limited buildable land in Whittier. Now, though, Begich is much more than . Over the years the building has started to look a little rundown. Hospital To Police Station: This 14 Storey Building Houses A Complete Town In It, Copyright 2020 Times Internet Limited. The town of Whittier is situated on the western end of the Prince William Sound, about 75 miles southeast of Anchorage and somewhat centrally located on the southern coast of Alaska. "We don't need all of the so-called conveniences of a large city. "Yeah, it is known as the weirdest city in Alaska," said her husband, Dave Dickason, who is Whittier's Mayor. The population drops to less than two hundred, and the streets empty as most of the town moves back indoors. A fitness centre and several cafes located near the house have also been built to the service of local residents. Great 2 Bedroom Condo with beautiful views of the mountains. ", "I just want them to know it's just a unique, beautiful place in its own way," he said. May 23, 2021 / 9:54 AM We Say, Yes! Nothings going to burn down.. Most in Whittier eventually found their way to the building, which was renamed Begich Towers (or BTI) after a missing Congressman. During the U.S. military's tenure in Whittier, all Whittier buildings had their hydronic heating needs fulfilled by a single heating plant. The Buckner, as it was called, was the social center for the posts military, civilian and dependent population. The towers are not 100% occupied. The complex has a shop . Photo via California Sunday Magazine Inside, sets of branched corridors and elevators allow residents access to all areas of the complex. "These are for finding out if your husband's at the bar! ]. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them The majority of the Alaska Railroad workers commute from Anchorage,as does Whittiers mayor and all but one of the towns police officers. Whittier is only accessible by boat, and a single drive through tunnel which periodically alternates directions. Since the vehicular passage in the tunnel is one lane, inbound and outbound traffic is staggered in fifteen minute intervals twice per hour; in the winter this shrinks to five-minute windows to keep the tunnel warm. Begich Towers also has a video rental spot, laundry, and at one point there was even a tanning bed. Because villages in remote areas may go many months without a visit from an itinerant dentist, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium has started a dental health aide program--the first of its kind in the United States. ]. 100 Kenai St Unit 414, a condos home located in Whittier, AK has 2 beds, 1 baths, and is 932 square feet. The tower was built in the 1950s and features elevators. One unique feature, there is a pedestrian tunnel linking . A Trending Reel Challenge That Can Win Us a Brand-New Swift? "No kid in this school can sit in the back of the classroom and not do something. Whittier, Alaska, on Prince William Sound. Lucky Medez, who moved to Whittier from Guam in her junior year, is one of three students in her graduating class. Whittier, just sixty miles from the epicenter, was severely damaged by the ensuing tsunamis, which brought waves up to 43 feet (13m) tall into town. Though over 700,000 people visit Whittier annually, many tourists disembark from cruise ships only to take the train straight to Anchorage, spending little time or money in Whittier. And for good reason: Sustained winds of sixty miles per hour are not uncommon. In Whittier's 99693 neighborhood, moving to this community offers plenty of nearby highlights. Paranormal enthusiasts claim that the Buckner Building is haunted by restless spirits. In addition to the residential units, the first floor has several busine. Anna laughed. Both were constructed in the wake of World War II along with the railroad leading in, a combined $55 million build that . Whittier is relatively close to Anchorage, Alaskabut it is still difficult to access. In recent decades, civilians have begun to trickle into a former army barracks at the heart of the town called Begich Towers. Your email address will not be published. on ActiveRain. If youre the ultimate homebodyWhittier, Alaska may be your dream destination. Like everyone who lives on the harbor-facing side of Begich Towers, June keeps a pair of binoculars on her windowsill. When Pastor Kevin Jones got a call from God to become a missionary, a friend suggested he go to Alaska. But in fact, the opposite happenedpeople moved out.). Tourism is a source of income for the town, although its guests tend to have brief visits. Those who stayed behind occupied the first four floors of the Hodge Building; other floors remained unoccupied. Because Whittier is surrounded by mountains, connecting it to other towns required significant tunneling. the property described as unit no. However, things are changing here. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. People in Whittier get out of their cars carefully; the wind has been known to shatter windshields and bend car doors backwards. Drop by Begich Towers today. It now owns almost all of the inhabitable land in Whittier. Request a FREE custom valuation for your Begich Towers Condo in Whittier AK. (Some residents opposed the tunnel retrofit, afraid that it would bring an influx of people to town. The two-year project cost $80 million to complete, and drastically improved access to Whittier. Most of the towers 1,200 residents at the time all Army personnel were reassigned elsewhere. '. It was named the Hodge Building in memory of Colonel William Walter Hodge, commander of the 93rd Engineer Regiment on the Alcan Highway. Begich Towers, Whittier, AK Real Estate and Homes for Sale Pending 100 KENAI ST # #, Whittier, AK 99693 $75,000 3 Beds 1 Baths 933 Sq Ft Listing by Jack White Real Estate Pending 100 KENAI ST # #, Whittier, AK 99693 $98,800 2 Beds 1 Baths 730 Sq Ft Listing by RE/MAX of Alyeska RE/MAX AK Real Estate Begich Towers Real Estate After the army left in 1960, Whittier citizens took over the building's 196 units. "In Guam I used to sneak out of the house, so my dad moved us to the perfect place: the tunnel closes at night, so there's nowhere to sneak out to. The apartment buildingsknown as Begich Towerswent viral on TikTok when podcaster Olivia Snake (@livvontheedge) posted a video about the strange . When the sun returns to the sky, residents pour out of BTI in shorts and T-shirts. Begich Towers also features a small bed and breakfast so that visitors can experience Whitters warm sense of community. Call or text 9073010189 for information on Buyer's Representation Services(NO COST TO HOME BUYERS). She'd like to move to Anchorage, but her teachers don't want her family to leave, because to lose Lucky and her five siblings would be disruptive in such a small school. Hes been here ever since. ]. There are benefits to living in the Begich Towers. Cowan asked, "What don't people understand about Whittier? Your browser is not currently supported. The Buckner Building housed, among other things, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a shooting range, a barbershop, and a six-cell jail. About 225 people live here, most of the town. For the dozens of children who live here, the building connects to the school through an underground tunnel. The location was strategically important because of its deep-water port, which stayed ice-free all year long, and its lousy weather: the near-constant cloud cover made it difficult for enemy aircraft to spot. The Whittier Glacier and the eponymous town were named for American poet John Greenleaf Whittier. Though Begich Towers and the Buckner Building provide much of Whittiers intrigue, they arent the only structures in town. It is 14 floors high and is made up of three modules connected together. Directions by Sea: The Alaska Marine Highway serves the community of Whittier, AK with passenger service onboard the M/V Aurora. From 1941 until 1943 Army engineer Anton Anderson led the largest tunneling project in United States history. They do, however, get excited to take photos of Brenda and her reindeer. The Hodge Building was constructed as three separate towers connected by metal plates. Katrina BentonKeller Williams Realty Hire a professional, positive, and proactive nationwideteam of Realtorsto help you sell or buyyour next home! Each office is independently owned and operated. The listing content relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the IDX Program of Alaska Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (AK MLS). The path to Whittier goes straight under a mountain, into a tunnel bored through more than two miles of solid rock. that are written by the members of this community. Begich Towers Condos in Whittier AK have an active Home Owner's Association with dues of about $250 to $550 per month depending upon the size of the unit. Outsiders have called Whittier the strangest town in Alaska. Theres no real threat of crime or terrorism. Located around 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, the town of Whittier has a 14-storey building that also houses a health clinic, police station and convenience store. website, call The building was designed in 1953 to host the headquarters of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Home Owner's Association privileges include the use of a large common room in the building for parties & entertaining as well as additional storage lockers & freezer spaces for rent. The drive through tunnel closes every night at 10:30 pm. The school is connected to the towers via a tunnel. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than , are marked with either the listing brokerage's logo or the AK MLS logo and information about them includes the name of the listing brokerage. As of 2016, funding for repairs relating to maintaining mechanical systems and renovating the faade came with a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1948 construction began in Whittier on the first of two enormous concrete structures. The Begich Tower was built by the U.S. Army in 1952 to be used as a barracks during the Cold War. It is one of Alaska's most famous buildings, mostly, because more than half of Whittier lives here. Depending upon placement within the towers, each unit has an unobstructed view of the harbor and bay or the mountains and waterfalls. Non-residents can enter the 1s floor where the city offices are and the top two floors where there is a bed and breakfast. [5], Last edited on 21 December 2022, at 18:47, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Northern Enclosure: Alaska's One-House Town, Home to Hundreds", "Army's Seaport On Glacier Rim Is Unique City", "Begich Towers, home to about half the population of Whittier, gets a much-needed overhaul", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Begich_Towers&oldid=1128738094, Majority of Whittier's population, local government, public services and businesses. Has several busine when the sun returns to the service of local.! Be used as a barracks during the U.S. Army in 1952 to be used as a during... 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