The name of the 14-floor building is The Begich Tower which is the residence for nearly the entire population of the city. The Hodge Building was constructed as three separate towers connected by metal plates. "Alaska is quite an unevangelized state," he explains. What is now the Begich Towers was part of that plan. Check The Alaska Marine Highways Website for a current Port Schedule for Whittier AK. The path to Whittier goes straight under a mountain, into a tunnel bored through more than two miles of solid rock. In Whittier, Alaska, almost the entire population of 318 year-round residents live under one roof. Now, a high rise does seem out of place here, but what's more surprising is, the Begich Towers (as they're officially called) is about the only place to live in all of Whittier. It was named the Hodge Building in memory of Colonel William Walter Hodge, commander of the 93rd Engineer Regiment on the Alcan Highway. The Pre-K through 12th grade student population of Whittier Community School typically ranges from 30-40 students. (Some residents opposed the tunnel retrofit, afraid that it would bring an influx of people to town. Built in 1943, this self-contained secure facility housed the radio and telegraph communications equipment. 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. "We're too small to function in isolation," said Erk. Still, he has convinced some of them to be baptized again; the harbor is too cold, so he sets up a large inflatable pool in the middle of the church room. About 300 or so residents live here year-round, many of them new families. Theres no real threat of crime or terrorism. The 14th floor of the Begich Towers remains quiet in Whittier on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. The Begich Towers Condominium Association of Apartment Owners was incorporated in 1974 as a 196-unit condo community. And it is strange: residents wander through the halls of BTI in pajamas; there is a provision on fish slime in the condo association guidelines; a pair of reindeer lives in a pen out front. This has earned Whittier the nickname of a "town under one roof".[1]. "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. 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. 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. Ratings are on scale of 1 (below average) and to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. It was built in three sections connected by metal plates so that it wouldn't crack apart during a quake. BTI may not have everything you want, but it has everything you need. 100 Kenai St Unit 414, a condos home located in Whittier, AK has 2 beds, 1 baths, and is 932 square feet. Alaska Railroad is the largest land owner, but it doesnt pay property taxes and employs few locals. The Begich Towers, in Whittier, Alaska, built by the military during the Cold War as a no-frills barracks, is now home to the majority of the isolated town's 300 or so residents. Come experience our Historical two and a half mile (one way) tunnel. The next day we were on the ground floor at the grocery store when a painfully loud fire alarm went off. "But, I've gotten used to it.". Whittier started to emerge from the Armys shadow when the city was officially incorporated in 1969. The Anchor Inn, a combination hotel, bar, and restaurantthe only bar or restaurant open year-roundis a five-minute walk from BTI. In the 1950s the United States government built a bunker of a residential skyscraper in the Alaskan wilderness. The Begich Tower was built by the U.S. Army in 1952 to be used as a barracks during the Cold War. Ed Hedges lives year-round on a 28-foot sailboat with his cat, Whatever. The Towers are 14 floors high. Under federal law, housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is unlawful. 3 Bedroom 1 Bath condo for sale in the historical Begich Towers located in Whittier, Alaska. Fastest Charging On Any Nord Phone Ever & Other Reasons Why OnePlus Nord 2T Is Worth Every Penny! Also, visit our Weird Attractions, Whittier, Alaska: One Building Houses A Whole Town, Crater of Diamonds: A Wealth of Buried Gems in Arkansas, A little piece of London in Arizona Lake Havasu Citys London Bridge, Devon Island: Canadas Remote Martian Island, Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp: Floridas Mystical Retreat. "Yeah, it is known as the weirdest city in Alaska," said her husband, Dave Dickason, who is Whittier's Mayor. Grounds are kept in excellent condition. Were All in for Arena Reel Star! The post office is near the buildings entrance and the police station is just down the hall. Those who stayed behind occupied the first four floors of the Hodge Building; other floors remained unoccupied. The weather might prevent you from leaving the building for months at a time but you can go to the Kozy Korner grocery store in pajamas and slippers. The boiler is a problem, and most people complain about the drab military colors inside. Its a concrete building, he said. Most condos have extensively updated and remodeled since then. A Trending Reel Challenge That Can Win Us a Brand-New Swift? Prices vary depending upon floor plan, size, view, condition, updating, and remodeling. Enjoy waterfall views from the 6th floor and an abundance of awesome outdoor activities. Begich Towers was completed in 1957 as a Cold War outpost for the U.S. Army, which then abandoned the facility by the mid-1960s. "These are for finding out if your husband's at the bar! 2023 RE/MAX, LLC. The town averages around 250 inches of snow annually, but some recent years have seen closer to 400 inches. The city officials are readily accessible on a daily basis. Bob Prunella was brought to Whittier as an interim city manager, but he's now stayed here for two years. While the United States was engaged in World War II, resources were temporarily diverted away from Whittier, leaving little activity in the area for the next five years. Wildlife Photographer Captures Rare Photo Of Three-Headed Cheetah, What's The Story Behind It? We recommend viewing REMAX.com and it's affiliated sites on one of the following browsers: Begich Towers, Whittier, AK Real Estate and Homes for Sale. While most of the town was destroyed, the rail lines, docks, deep water wells, and massive concrete buildings remained largely intact. Begich Towers is currently home to 75% of Whittiers 300 permanent residents. Nov 2020 Solo. But when the temperature dips below freezing, that window narrows to five minutes. The 14-story building is a former Army barracks built in 1956, yet it houses all the amenities you'd 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. Home prices range between $45,000 to $90000. As the closest town to the disaster, Whittier was an important base camp for authorities and clean-up crews, and its rail barges shipped the hazardous material out of Alaska. Due to the small population, everyone is familiar with each other in the house, they often roam around the house in slippers and pajamas, even when they go on business. Experience Whittier living at Begich Towers. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Disclaimer: ActiveRain, Inc. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. Instead they go directly from the cruise ship to a train that takes them to Anchorage. Behind Whittiers everyday peculiarities is a community thoroughly circumscribed by geography, architecture, and weather. (See it on Google Street view). Surprisingly, there are not many residential buildings in this town. They also had a lot of civil rights actions here [in Alaska] in the forties; the Natives werent even allowed to sit in the movie theater with white people. 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. The visitor asked the firefighter what he should do. Whittier, Alaska, about 60 miles from Anchorage, is both beautiful and yet gritty. Of course, not all residents are friends with each other, but they help each other if required. Post with kindness. Inside, sets of branched corridors and elevators allow residents access to all areas of the complex. 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. Not all transplants survive the unique lifestyle at BTI. The former Army barracks is often described. In fact, what makes Whittier unique is that all the locals live in one large 14-story building! The Begich Towers Condos in Whittier AK are a great place to call home. The Kozy Korner grocery store is stocked with essentials. Close to some of Whittier's most popular landmarks, such as Begich Towers Incorporated (0.0 mi) and Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (1.9 mi), June's Whittier 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. Story produced by Sari Aviv. 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. ", Cowan asked Jenessa, "What are people asking the most? Joey Lipscomb, an eighth grader, runs the garden. Construction began on the 14-story Hodge Building in 1953. ]. The U.S. Army began construction of a rail line in 1941 from Whittier to nearby Portage, Alaska. 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. / CBS News. Whittier is known as "the town under one roof" since nearly all of its roughly 200 residents live in Begich Towers, an army barracks turned residential tower block. Perhaps the best reason to live in Begich Towers is its perceived invincibility. The population drops to less than two hundred, and the streets empty as most of the town moves back indoors. The room used by the church is in the basement; until recently a Southern Baptist presided over the mostly Catholic congregation. Depending upon placement within the towers, each unit has an unobstructed view of the harbor and bay or the mountains and waterfalls. 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. 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. 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. Later people started living here and it became an apartment. About 225 people live here, most of the town. 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? After its military service the building was modified for civilian life. Their past. "But, everything's here. The Buckner, as it was called, was the social center for the posts military, civilian and dependent population. It can shatter windshields and rip your car doors right off. Regarding the dating question, she said, "Nobody really dates here because we all grew up together and that'd be kinda weird. Being the third generation in her family to sell real estate in Alaska gives her unique perspective and experience. Begich Towers also features a small bed and breakfast so that visitors can experience Whitters warm sense of community. 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. The main 14-story apartment complex, Begich Towers, contains 150 two- or three-bedroom apartments, the kind of density that could foster a devastating infection rate in the tiny population.. Recreational activities near Begich Towers Apartments are plentiful. Some people love it because IT CAN BE REALLY SOCIAL. Anna said, "If I had one word, I'd say it's magical.". Begich Towers is essentially a fully functional condo that is equipped to take care of most of the residents needs in-house. 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. Valentines Day Gifting Stressing You Out? CV Raman Birth Anniversary: Rare Footage Of Indian Scientist In Sweden To Receive Nobel Prize. After the army left in 1960, Whittier citizens took over the building's 196 units. the heat, electricity, exterior and groundsmaintenance, garbage service, water and sewer service, and snow removal. 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. Drop by Begich Towers today. A police station, grocery store, clinic, church, convenience store, and school are all housed within the structure. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. During the U.S. military's tenure in Whittier, all Whittier buildings had their hydronic heating needs fulfilled by a single heating plant. "It really isn't," the mayor responded. The majority of the Alaska Railroad workers commute from Anchorage,as does Whittiers mayor and all but one of the towns police officers. Light and bright apartment style condos you would expect to find for sale in the Begich Towers Condos in Whittier AK are going to range between 511 and 1827 square feet. The buildings former jail, now apartment 411, was appraised at $19,500 and listed for sale in 1976: 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.. (800) 525-7452. [ Before the tunnel conversion began, BTI condos sold for as little as $9,000. Begich Towers: An Alaskan Town in a Tower By Sometimes Interesting In the 1950s the United States government built a bunker of a residential skyscraper in the Alaskan wilderness. Housing protections include being unfairly evicted, denied housing, or refused the ability to rent or buy housing. May 23, 2021 / 9:54 AM In the process he stopped up the plumbing on the floors below hima neighbor called city management to complain that someone had flushed large amounts of dog food down the toilets, but it turned out to be pellets of grow medium. Others dont make it through the first winter, and liken the experience to being in jail. "We don't need all of the big box stores," said Dave. I got so many comments on my TikTok saying, 'It looks sad. Powered by Next to the school and towers is the indoor playground (pictured), which protects kids from the elements year-round. Shuford said. '. Alaska's laws often reflect the needs of a sparsely populated state, which presents challenges for policing within Begich Towers. Value 3.7. 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 During World War II the US Army set up military facilities in what is now the town of Whittier. Sewer service, and school are all housed within the Towers, unit... Later people started living here and it became an Apartment Armys shadow when begich towers floor plan city officials are readily on. 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