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. With most of the residences within the town of Whittier AK being located in the Begich Towers Condos, it is no surprise this really is the center of town. There's a police station on one side, and a post office on the other. Most condos have extensively updated and remodeled since then. Whittier started out in the mid-1950s as a military outpost. 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. One unique feature, there is a pedestrian tunnel linking . (Some residents opposed the tunnel retrofit, afraid that it would bring an influx of people to town. ", Beverly Walts has been bartending at the Anchor Inn ever since she moved to Whittier from Texas in the early 1990s. Construction started with the Hodge Building, along with the Buckner Building 660 yards (600m) to the northeast, with both opening in 1957. 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. Kids with questions on their homework can go down the hall and knock on the door to the teachers apartment. The visitor asked the firefighter what he should do. The complex has a shop . 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. '. More. The massive structures were, for years, the two largest buildings in Alaska. In the darkest days of winter you can sometimes find teachers in the garden, sitting underneath the natural spectrum grow lights. But in fact, the opposite happenedpeople moved out.). In 1998 reconstruction began to convert the rail-only Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnelfor dual-use, allowing vehicular access as well. The area where modern-day Whittier sits was . Today all but a handful of the towns residents live inside. Your email address will not be published. There are benefits to living in the Begich Towers. From amenities to availability, the community staff will be ready to help you find your perfect apartment. The U.S. government returned to Whittier at the onset of the Cold War. Though Begich Towers and the Buckner Building provide much of Whittiers intrigue, they arent the only structures in town. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. You can find Condos for sale in Begich Towers (if there are any available today) as well as all available Whittier AK Condos for sale on my website. Adventure Tours. Value 3.7. 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 boiler is a problem, and most people complain about the drab military colors inside. "We're too small to function in isolation," said Erk. In the 1950s the United States government built a bunker of a residential skyscraper in the Alaskan wilderness. Each office independently owned and operated. The drive through tunnel closes every night at 10:30 pm. Victor Shen also works with students here and he's also a graduate. 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 Paranormal enthusiasts claim that the Buckner Building is haunted by restless spirits. Innovative & Cutting-Edge: This Is Why Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tours Entry In Metaverse Was A Hit! Actor's Brother Spills The Beans, Cricketer Virat Kohli Says His Wife Anushka Sharma Has Made Massive Sacrifices As A Mother, New Meme Unlocked: Pakistani Cooking Show Contestant Presents Store-Bought Biryani To Judges, Goes Viral, Is Introducing A Sex Toy To Your Love Life A Good Idea? the heat, electricity, exterior and groundsmaintenance, garbage service, water and sewer service, and snow removal. Request a FREE custom valuation for your Begich Towers Condo in Whittier AK. Tourism is a source of income for the town, although its guests tend to have brief visits. May 23, 2021 / 9:54 AM Heres How To Choose, Where To Buy & More. The 14-story building is a former Army barracks built in 1956, yet it houses all the amenities youd expect from a small town: a laundromat, health clinic, corner store, police station, church, video store, city offices and the homes of nearly 200 residents.Photo via California Sunday Magazine. All desirable qualities for the military, to be sure however its drawback was its isolation; at the time the region had no rail or vehicular access. 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. Hes been here ever since. In addition to the residential units, the first floor has several businesses: a laundry mat, Post Office, condo association offices and more. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations. " The Begich Towers Condominium is a building in the small city of Whittier, Alaska. 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. 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 building was designed in 1953 to host the headquarters of the US Army Corps of Engineers. About an. Begich Towers is an interesting housing complex where 95% of the Whittier population lives in this one 14 story condo building. More Info. Start a conversation, not a fire. When asked about Whittier's social life, Shuford said, "Yep, that can be a little troublesome. The only way to get to Whittier is to drive through a one-lane railroad tunnel through the middle of a mountain. Alaska's laws often reflect the needs of a sparsely populated state, which presents challenges for policing within Begich Towers. Today the ACS building is home to the Anchor Inn. That's what fills my bucket, and that's why I want to stay.". [ Before the tunnel conversion began, BTI condos sold for, o back to your condo and shut the door so you can avoid the noise. Photos from a recent listing: In Whittier population turnover can be high, understandable given the lack of consistent, year-round work. Most in Whittier eventually found their way to the building, which was renamed Begich Towers (or BTI) after a missing Congressman. Because it doesn't matter where you came from, how much money you have, you know, we're all just here in this town trying to make it work.". right?". To get there we drove some 60 miles from Anchorage, and then waited for nearly an hour to pass through a 2.5 mile-long, one-lane railroad tunnel that cuts through the middle of a mountain. A small percentage of the population lives in Whittier Manor, a low-rise condo that overlooks the clanking rail yard, and a couple of people live on their boats year round. At 11 pm the tunnel is locked for the night. Theres no real threat of crime or terrorism. In Whittier's 99693 neighborhood, moving to this community offers plenty of nearby highlights. Not everyone who tries to live in Begich Towers can take ita newcomer from Florida compared it to jailand there simply isnt much space on which to build alternate housing, I dont know where Whittier is going, the city manager told us. (See it on Google Street view). About 300 or so residents live here year-round, many of them new families. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, Top Dems push Fox News to stop promoting "propaganda" about 2020 election, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35, Pandemic-era food benefits end for millions of Americans as costs rise. This page was last edited on 21 December 2022, at 18:47. The Hodge Building was constructed as three separate towers connected by metal plates. On our first night in town, a small earthquake hit, but we thought it was just another gust of wind rattling the windowpanes. The Buckner Building housed, among other things, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a shooting range, a barbershop, and a six-cell jail. The firefighters response:Go back to your condo and shut the door so you can avoid the noise. 60 miles from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider needs as part of the school selection process. Explore selling options, sales history, home details and more on . When the Army pulled out of Whittier in 1960, the handful of remaining residents turned BTI into a condo, but the Buckner Building was simply abandoned. Whittier, Alaska, on Prince William Sound. Whittier AK is located just fifty miles outside of Anchorage. Though there are two small grocery stores in Whittier, people tend to do most of their shopping in Anchorage, braving 60 miles of icy highway to do so. Because I dont know where it wants to go. Some residents would like to see growth and economic development in Whittier, but theres a sizable group who would just rather be left alone. But when the temperature dips below freezing, that window narrows to five minutes. And that tunnel shuts down at night, leaving Whitter cut off until morning. Were All in for Arena Reel Star! website, call The 14th floor of the Begich Towers remains quiet in Whittier on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. Each room has a big-screen TV, WiFi, and sweeping views of Alaska. ]. (There once was a combination video rental store and tanning salon, but its been closed for a while now.) . Begich Towers is currently home to 75% of Whittiers 300 permanent residents. Business development is a challenge, as there is very limited buildable land in Whittier. 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. Thus, it is possible to save on heating here, which is especially important when a strong wind blows here most of the year, it is snowing or raining. 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