The city officials are readily accessible on a daily basis. It was built by the military in 1956 for soldiers and their families and later became a home for civilians in 1973. ]. More. Today the asking price has risen to $35,000. This has earned Whittier the nickname of a "town under one roof".[1]. The Kozy Korner grocery store is stocked with essentials. RE/MAX, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports the Fair Housing Act and equal opportunity housing. Regarding the dating question, she said, "Nobody really dates here because we all grew up together and that'd be kinda weird. ActiveRain, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, she laughed. First published on May 23, 2021 / 9:54 AM. 3 Bedroom 1 Bath condo for sale in the historical Begich Towers located in Whittier, Alaska. 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. OnePlus 11 5Gs Focus on Customer Satisfaction And User Experience Is Why Its A Phone For Keeps! When asked about Whittier's social life, Shuford said, "Yep, that can be a little troublesome. 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. The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred when a ship ran into the Bligh Reef off the coast of Alaska, spilling nearly eleven million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound. Shuford, originally from North Carolina, now lives on the 12th floor of what some describe as the "Wilderness Tower." 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. In 1964, the area was hit by a tsunami caused by the Good Friday earthquake, but the damage was not extensive. The purpose of the bomb-proof mid-century Hodge Building was to support a remote logistics station in Whittier, Alaska. Begich Towers is essentially a fully functional condo that is equipped to take care of most of the residents needs in-house. Begich Towers is nearly earthquake and fire-proof. Begich Towers 110 Kenai Street, Whittier, AK 99693 Studio Beds Property Information 196 Units 14 Stories Built in 1956 Begich Towers Description Experience Whittier living at Begich Towers. Fastest Charging On Any Nord Phone Ever & Other Reasons Why OnePlus Nord 2T Is Worth Every Penny! Mayor Lester Lunceford recently moved from Whittier to Anchorage; his is a part-time, unpaid position, so he commutes into town when he can. It is one of Alaska's most famous buildings, mostly, because more than half of Whittier lives here. / CBS News. Begich Towers Incorporated discounts - what to see at Whittier - check out reviews and 1 photos for Begich Towers Incorporated - popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Begich Towers Incorporated . Nearly all of Whittiers population lives in this 14-story building. Employment protections include being fired, denied employment, or otherwise discriminated against by an employer. Drop by Begich Towers today. Nothings going to burn down.. More Info. However, things are changing here. Author Bio: Katrina is a top producing Realtor from Anchorage, AK. (Some residents opposed the tunnel retrofit, afraid that it would bring an influx of people to town. "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 firefighters response:Go back to your condo and shut the door so you can avoid the noise. The east tower was built first, followed by the middle tower, and finally the west tower, which was finished in 1957. Grounds are kept in excellent condition. Orlet us know your school story in the comments section below and share this info with your friends and family, and keep readingIndiatimes.comfor the latest trending news. The Buckner, as it was called, was the social center for the posts military, civilian and dependent population. But thriving harbor industriesfreight, fishing, tourismdont seem to translate into growth for the city. 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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. There are also some health and safety problems. Each office independently owned and operated. Nothings going to burn down.. Luckily there is a drain in the middle of the floor, because church is held in the basement of Begich Towers. Both were constructed in the wake of World War II along with the railroad leading in, a combined $55 million build that . During winter months, auto traffic is allowed through twice an hourfifteen minutes for outbound traffic, and fifteen minutes for inbound. This has earned Whittier the nickname of a "town under one roof". Most of the local businesses in Whittier are in the triangle by the waterfront or Anchor Inn building, but employment options are limited. 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.. Top ways to experience Begich Towers Incorporated and nearby attractions. make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. Victor Shen also works with students here and he's also a graduate. 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. website, call the property described as unit 104, 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 "'74-1, and as identified in the declaration recorded march 26, 1974, book 2, page 571, and in any In Whittier, Alaska, almost the entire population of 318 year-round residents live under one roof. A fitness centre and several cafes located near the house have also been built to the service of local residents. 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 is one of Alaska's most famous buildings, mostly, because more than half of Whittier lives here. In 2000 the tunnel was retrofitted to accommodate cars, but before that, the train sometimes came through only once a week, so residents were well-protected from whatever they might be running away from. If you wish to report an issue or seek an accommodation, please, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. 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. He also had to get used to his address. Begich Towers: Tour the most famous building in Whittier, Man charged in 1994 sexual abuse cold case, Fairview neighborhood to receive $537K in federal grant to reconnect community, Alaska groups celebrate Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples Day becoming city holidays. The visitor asked the firefighter what he should do. Grounds are kept in excellent condition. Depending upon placement within the towers, each unit has an unobstructed view of the harbor and bay or the mountains and waterfalls. Home Details for 401 Begich Towers Property Information Year Built Year Built: 1940 LGBTQ Local Legal Protections Homes for Rent Near 401 Begich Towers Off Market Homes Near 401 Begich Towers 401 Begich Towers, Whittier, AK 99693 is a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 740 sqft property built in 1940. Three years later, the Army transferred ownership of the two giant Cold War-era buildings (Buckner & Hodge) to the state of Alaska, which then deeded them to Whittier in 1973. 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. ", Gary Carr works at the Kozy Korner Store, which is housed on the ground floor of Begich Towers. The 14th floor of the Begich Towers remains quiet in Whittier on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. 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. 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. 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. Because the weather can be so extreme, kids often walk to school via an underground tunnel. I got so many comments on my TikTok saying, 'It looks sad. 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. It's accessible, but also very remote. We asked a volunteer firefighter what we should do, and he told us it was best to go back to our condo and shut the door so we could avoid the noise. 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. 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. And that tunnel shuts down at night, leaving Whitter cut off until morning. "No kid in this school can sit in the back of the classroom and not do something. Most condos have extensively updated and remodeled since then. The population drops to less than two hundred, and the streets empty as most of the town moves back indoors. On our first night in town, a small earthquake hit, but we thought it was just another gust of wind rattling the windowpanes. Pastor Kevin is a Southern Baptist, but most of his parishioners are Catholic immigrants from the Pacific Islands. 2023 RE/MAX, LLC. Not all transplants survive the unique lifestyle at BTI. Begich Towers also has a video rental spot, laundry, and at one point there was even a tanning bed. When completed, the one-mile railroad tunnel through Begich Peak and the 2.5-mile railroad tunnel through Maynard Mountain combined for 13,300 feet. (Sarah Bell / Alaska Dispatch News) Trouble in paradise Dempster, a. Begich Towers is an interesting housing complex where 95% of the Whittier population lives in this one 14 story condo building. Now, though, Begich is much more than . [ Buckner Building: Named in honor of General Simon Bolivar Buckner, the large building crammed an entire military post into one building. Private Walking Tour in Whittier AK. Of course, not all residents are friends with each other, but they help each other if required. Hes been here ever since. A handful of single-story industrial and municipal buildings sit between BTI and the harbor. The only way to get to Whittier is to drive through a one-lane railroad tunnel through the middle of a mountain. "But, I've gotten used to it.". That's why people prefer to live in the 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. 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. Theres no real threat of crime or terrorism. Watch this video link to tour the Begich Towers. This propelled Whittier into a more important role as other regional ports who suffered more damage were inoperable. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. ]. Until he moved away, Pastor Kevin Jones, a Southern Baptist, presided over a mostly Catholic congregation. Adjustment is not easy, nor guaranteed, for those who make an attempt. Most Whittier residents love the tiny towns remote status. Their past. Enormous, spooky, mazelike, full of beer cans and debris, the Buckner building is catnip for teenagers, graffiti artists, urban explorers, and photographers. June Miller runs Junes Whittier Condo Suites, a B&B on the Towers top two floors. Brought to you by licensed Realtors at Keller Williams Realty. A museum about the Japanese occupation of Alaska during World War II, an abandoned army barracks called the Buckner Building which once housed Whittier residents as Begich Towers does today, and a handful of delectable restaurants that serve fresh seafood are some other points of interest. [ Before the tunnel conversion began, BTI condos sold for as little as $9,000. Winters paint a different picture. A visitor recounted a conversation with the resident volunteer firefighter when apainfully loud fire alarm went off inside BTI. 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. On Good Friday in March of 1964, the second most powerful earthquake in recorded history buckled the floor underneath Prince William Sound, registering a whopping 9.2 magnitude on the Richter scale. Kids with questions on their homework can go down the hall and knock on the door to the teachers apartment. Today all but a handful of the towns residents live inside. 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. And you always have someone to talk to.". Electric Sunroof, Head Up Display & Other Features That Make The All New Hot & Techy Brezza A Hit. Check The Alaska Marine Highways Website for a current Port Schedule for Whittier AK. 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