The weather in this corner of Alaska is very unpredictable - winds blow at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and snowfall reaches 250, The building was built in 1956 and during. It's accessible, but also very remote. Inside, the painted concrete hallways illuminated by the ubiquitous yellow fluorescent lighting always remind that you are inside what used to be a government building. The oldest surviving structure from this occupation is the Alaska Communication Systems (ACS) building, also the oldest concrete structure in Whittier (pictured below, source). Disclaimer: ActiveRain, Inc. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. One benefit of living at BTI is that kids dont need jackets when they go to school in the winter because the towns school was built immediately behind Begich Towers; it connects to the base of the west tower via an underground tunnel, which shields the kids from Whittiers extreme winter weather. Most condos have extensively updated and remodeled since then. Photos from a recent listing: In Whittier population turnover can be high, understandable given the lack of consistent, year-round work. Jim's studio is located in Whittier Manor, the only other residential building in Whittier besides Begich Towers. The visitor asked the firefighter what he should do. The structure is notable for being the residence for nearly the entire population of the city as well as containing many of its public facilities. This has earned Whittier the nickname of a "town under one roof". The weather in this corner of Alaska is very unpredictable - winds blow at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and snowfall reaches 250 The Begich Towers Condominium Association of Apartment Owners was incorporated in 1974 as a 196-unit condo community. In the summertime you can look out and see whales breaching in the harbor, or mountain goats grazing on the slopes across the water, but mostly people use binoculars to spy on their neighbors. That's what fills my bucket, and that's why I want to stay.". When Ed first moved to Whittier he was living on a 32-foot bayliner, but it was difficult to heat such a large boat, and besides, he was told the waitlist for a berth that would accommodate a boat that size would be 15 years. Proving the Whittier experience is not for everyone, it hasmixed reviews on TripAdvisor. Enjoy the excellent mountain and waterfall views from this 2 bedroom, 1 bath fifth floor condo in Begich Towers. Use the map to locate points of interest like shopping, restaurants, andhealth care services. The plumbing system is certainly overworked. Theres no real threat of crime or terrorism. In addition to residential apartments, the building houses Whittiers grocery store, laundromat, medical clinic, police department, post office, and the city offices. Paranormal enthusiasts claim that the Buckner Building is haunted by restless spirits. CV Raman Birth Anniversary: Rare Footage Of Indian Scientist In Sweden To Receive Nobel Prize. The only way to get to Whittier is to drive through a one-lane railroad tunnel through the middle of a mountain. There are also some health and safety problems. Copyright 2023 Alaska Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. BTI is beginning to show its age. Their past. What if there's an emergency or something and I can't get out?" (There once was a combination video rental store and tanning salon, but its been closed for a while now.) In the 1950s the United States government built a bunker of a residential skyscraper in the Alaskan wilderness. Fastest Charging On Any Nord Phone Ever & Other Reasons Why OnePlus Nord 2T Is Worth Every Penny! When the military left, the Alaska Railroad took over. The building was designed in 1953 to host the headquarters of the US Army Corps of Engineers. It was designed to house a 1500-man garrison with its own chapel, command offices, brig, TV station, PX, theater, laundry facilities, barber, an enormous mess hall, craft shop, a bowling alley, a shooting range, commissary, bakery, dispensary, and private rooms for officers and NCOs. (800) 525-7452. It is one of Alaska's most famous buildings, mostly, because more than half of Whittier lives here. Begich Towers is essentially a fully functional condo that is equipped to take care of most of the residents needs in-house. Construction started with the Hodge Building, along with the Buckner Building 660 yards (600m) to the northeast, with both opening in 1957. Of the thirteen Whittier residents who perished in the Good Friday (or Great Alaskan) Earthquake, only one body was recovered. Each room has a big-screen TV, WiFi, and sweeping views of Alaska. Pastor Kevin is a Southern Baptist, but most of his parishioners are Catholic immigrants from the Pacific Islands. It was a long, Brutalist monolith nestled into the side of the mountain on the east side of town, and served as the operational headquarters for the military. Contact Address: 110 Kenai Street Whittier, AK 99693 Phone Number: (907) 472-2484 Home AK Whittier Begich Towers Apartments Report an Issue Contact this Property (907) 472-2484 Editor: Steven Tyler. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations. In the US state of Alaska, there is a town called Whittier. It can shatter windshields and rip your car doors right off. Residents must learn to love their neighbors because despite Whittiersisolation from the rest of the world, living in a tower with the rest of the town offers an experience devoid of privacy. It was named the Hodge Building in memory of Colonel William Walter Hodge, commander of the 93rd Engineer Regiment on the Alcan Highway. In the summertime Whittier is bustling. They do take care of their own here breakfast for the kids is often made by the teachers, and during COVID is delivered right to the doorsteps of students. I got so many comments on my TikTok saying, 'It looks sad. People in Whittier get out of their cars carefully; the wind has been known to shatter windshields and bend car doors backwards. Part of the heating system has been replaced. The serene setting,mountain and harbor views make this the perfect Alaska getaway. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. June's Whittier Bed and Breakfast Condos is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Whittier, offering many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. Powered by " The Begich Towers Condominium is a building in the small city of Whittier, Alaska. $175.00. The east tower was built first, followed by the middle tower, and finally the west tower, which was finished in 1957. The population drops to less than two hundred, and the streets empty as most of the town moves back indoors. Brenda Tolman is known for the two reindeer she keeps in a pen across the street from Begich Towers, but she also spends much of her time making wood carvings, dolls, jewelry and other crafts to sell to tourists at her shop on the harbor. Over the years the building has started to look a little rundown. "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. Katrina BentonKeller Williams Realty Hire a professional, positive, and proactive nationwideteam of Realtorsto help you sell or buyyour next home! The Hodge Building was transformed into a public building with several units, including the headquarters of the major institutions and commercial services of Whittier. The two-year project cost $80 million to complete, and drastically improved access to Whittier. On the buildings top two floors are Junes Whittier Condo Suites, a residents bed and breakfast operation with nearly a dozen suites ranging from $155 to $265 a night. The Towers are 14 floors high. Find AK real estate agents 2023 ActiveRain, Inc. All Rights Reserved :) homeFair Housing: Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Real Estate Agent with Come Home Inc License #16564, Affordable Condos with Unobstructed Views, Depending upon placement within the towers, each unit has an unobstructed view of the. Recognized by ActiveRain as a 2013-2014 Top Contributor for Real Estate Blogging. A few years ago, a pot grower on the 10th floor had just finished a harvest and decided to get rid of some of the evidence by flushing it down the toilet. "But, everything's here. The Buckner Building housed, among other things, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a shooting range, a barbershop, and a six-cell jail. Those who stayed behind occupied the first four floors of the Hodge Building; other floors remained unoccupied. Most in Whittier eventually found their way to the building, which was renamed Begich Towers (or BTI) after a missing Congressman. The Begich Towers Condos in Whittier AK are a great place to call home. 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. The Buckner Building over here was named after General Buckner. Whittier is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and home to majestic animals such as reindeer who live in a small enclosure just outside of Begich Towers, and humpback whales who frolic in the pristine waters of Prince William Sound. Cowan asked Shuford, "What do you want people to know about Whittier? Brokered And Advertised By: Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group Listing Agent: Michael Schwartz. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); UnusualPlaces.org is your guide to quirky, weird and beautiful places to visit around the world. 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 name of the 14-floor building is The Begich Tower which is the residence for nearly the entire population of the city. Residents sell food and crafts to visitors, but most of the tourists money goes straight out the tunnel. 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. "No kid in this school can sit in the back of the classroom and not do something. Dock hands who unload the supply barges in Whittier also shuttle in from Anchorage once a week. Outsiders have called Whittier the strangest town in Alaska. It soars skyward, rudely. Jim carves figures of Alaskan animals out of native Alaskan ivory. The search was called off after 39 days; the plane and its four passengers were never found. The first thing we noticed when we arrived in Whittier was the windwe were barely out of the car when a powerful gust pushed us down the hill. More Info. A police station, grocery store, clinic, church, convenience store, and school are all housed within the structure. Regarding the dating question, she said, "Nobody really dates here because we all grew up together and that'd be kinda weird. The settlement sits on a delta in which mountains rise to 3,500 feet within two miles on either side. But in fact, the opposite happenedpeople moved out.). Your browser is not currently supported. We Say, Yes! One unique feature, there is a pedestrian tunnel linking the complex to the . In the basement of the Hodge Building, the plastic-lined water containers were also undisturbed. But when the temperature dips below freezing, that window narrows to five minutes. right?". It was designed to house a 1500-man garrison with its own chapel, command offices, brig, TV station, PX, theater, laundry facilities, barber, an enormous mess hall, craft shop, a bowling alley, a shooting range, commissary, bakery, dispensary, and private rooms for officers and NCOs. The military was drawn to Whittier for many reasons, primarily because it is the states only year-round ice-free deep-water port. Dr. Michael Costa is a visiting dentist who spends nearly half his year traveling between Alaskan villages, and Erik Linduska is a dental health aide therapist based out of King Cove. Alaska Railroad is the largest land owner, but it doesnt pay property taxes and employs few locals. [ Buckner Building: Named in honor of General Simon Bolivar Buckner, the large building crammed an entire military post into one building. Begich Towers is an interesting housing complex where 95% of the Whittier population lives in this one 14 story condo building. The room used by the church is in the basement; until recently a Southern Baptist presided over the mostly Catholic congregation. To some, it may just be the strangest town in Alaska, but for residents Whittier seems to be the answer to the call of the wild. Each office independently owned and operated. During winter months, auto traffic is allowed through twice an hourfifteen minutes for outbound traffic, and fifteen minutes for inbound. ", Cowan asked Jenessa, "What are people asking the most? This property is not currently available for sale. The Begich Towers Condominium is a building in the small town of Whittier, Alaska. Today all but a handful of the towns residents live inside. Several bathrooms still have the original pink tiles and the yellow counter tops in the kitchens. June Miller runs June's Whittier Condo Suites, a bed and breakfast on the fourteenth and fifteenth floors of Begich Towers. Instead, on the edge of town, there stands a 14-story building called Begich Towers a former Army barracks, resembling an aging hotel, where most of the town's 200 residents live. Depending upon placement within the towers, each unit has an unobstructed view of the harbor and bay or the mountains and waterfalls. Wildlife Photographer Captures Rare Photo Of Three-Headed Cheetah, What's The Story Behind It? Now, though, Begich is much more than . [2] After the war, the military planned to develop a large complex in the area. Begich Towers Condominium Association of Apartment Owners Inc. ", Gary Carr works at the Kozy Korner Store, which is housed on the ground floor of Begich Towers. In addition to the residential units, the first floor has several busine. This has earned Whittier the nickname of a "town under one roof". 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. Shuford, originally from North Carolina, now lives on the 12th floor of what some describe as the "Wilderness Tower." Some easily adjust and stay for 20+ years. During his tenure, Lester has been interested in gaining exposure for Whittier and really putting it on the map; he has recently been in talks with two reality television production companies and the producers of a Gerard Butler submarine movie. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. 60 miles from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. During the summer the towns population swells as boaters, fishermen, seasonal workers, and tourists descend upon the small port. And some people love it because it can be reclusive.. (Some residents opposed the tunnel retrofit, afraid that it would bring an influx of people to town. Watch this video link to tour the Begich Towers. Request a FREE custom valuation for your Begich Towers Condo in Whittier AK. Whittier residents who ventured to Anchorage for an evening of fun, and missed the 10:30 tunnel cut off time have been known to spend the night in their car. It was part of a completely self-sufficient complex designed to allow its residents to stay indoors for months at a time during the harsh coastal Alaskan winters. Find similar condos for sale to the Begich Towers Condos in Whittier AK. Nearly all of Whittiers population lives in this 14-story building. Begich Towers residents rarely have to brave Alaskas icy winds and blinding snow at the height of winter if they dont want to because virtually anything they may need is conveniently located a few short minutes from their doorstep. (Whittier has an EMT team but no hospital, so in the case of a nighttime emergency, a police officer has to run ahead of the ambulance to unlock each of the four gates inside the tunnel.). From amenities to availability, the community staff will be ready to help you find your perfect apartment. The building was designed in 1953 by Anton Anderson to host the headquarters of the US Army Corps of Engineers. This property is not currently for sale or for rent on Trulia. Walk a little into the room and you will see government offices, as well as Kozy Korner convenience store, a shop where everyone is shopping. In 1941 the United States military took an interest in Whittier to function as the backup port to the primary one at Seward, about 50 miles to the south. And for good reason: Sustained winds of sixty miles per hour are not uncommon. Did you know about these amazing buildings before? the property described as unit no. Some features of this website may not work until you update to a supported browser. Begich Towers is nearly earthquake and fire-proof. Most in BTI have binoculars sitting by the window. The smallest homes in the building are efficiency units, largerfloor plans have two or three bedrooms. During the U.S. military's tenure in Whittier, all Whittier buildings had their hydronic heating needs fulfilled by a single heating plant. 762 SqFt Condo In Begich Towers for sale in Whittier, AK. A pot bust on the tenth floor led to the police donating hydroponic equipment to Whittiers school for a vegetable garden, which Joey Lipscomb oversaw through eighth grade. that are written by the members of this community. Beverly looked out at the snow whipping sideways past the window and told us, Down in the Lower 48, this would have a name., Whittier has a city manager style of government, which means that the mayor mainly serves as a figurehead, and the city manager, who is not elected but hired, is in charge of all the municipal operations. These Are The 13 Families In The World That Apparently Control Everything - From Politics To Terrorism, After Viral Shower Selfie, R Madhavan's New Look Is Making Women Go Weak In Their Knees Again. When we shot this photo, the wind was blowing upwards of 60 mph and there were no other customers in the bar. Experience Whittier living at Begich Towers. Because the winters are so ferocious, the towns only playground is indoors. All Rights Reserved. It now owns almost all of the inhabitable land in Whittier. The building is composed of brick and steel, making it safe . At any time, a resident can knock on the police chief's door, and students can get help from the teacher for study. Hospital To Police Station: This 14 Storey Building Houses A Complete Town In It, Copyright 2020 Times Internet Limited. 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. 301, begich towers condominiums, as shown on the floor plans filed in the office of the recorder of the anchorage recording district, third judicial district, state of alaska, under plat number w74-1, and as identified in the declaration recorded march 26, 1974, book 2, page 571, and in any The structure stands 14 stories high with a rectangular plan and a flat roof. (See it on Google Street view). While most of the town was destroyed, the rail lines, docks, deep water wells, and massive concrete buildings remained largely intact. Because Whittier is surrounded by mountains, connecting it to other towns required significant tunneling. For the rest of the 1960s, Whittiers population fluctuated between forty and seventy people. The building was built in 1956 and duringWorld War II, there was an army barrack at this place, due to which all the facilities are available here. Parents dont have to worry about kids and traffic at the indoor playground. Seasonal workers come for jobs on fishing boats, charter boats, or in the cannery, and cruise ships bring hundreds of thousands of tourists to the harbor. The area where modern-day Whittier sits was . A 1956 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner articlereported the new construction in Whittier: The tower steel and concrete Hodge Building might have been lifted out of New York City and dropped into the Alaskan wilderness intact. In 1972, the building was renamed Begich Towers Condominium, in memory of Nick Begich, a Congressman from Alaska who disappeared in the area and is presumed to have died in a plane crash. Us state of Alaska & # x27 ; s most famous buildings, mostly, because more than of. 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