The name of the 14-floor building is The Begich Tower which is the residence for nearly the entire population of the city. Correspondent Lee Cowan asked, "It's not for everybody. Check The Alaska Marine Highways Website for a current Port Schedule for Whittier AK. Today all but a handful of the towns residents live inside. ", Cowan asked Jenessa, "What are people asking the most? "It's like, no, it's not! Charming small towns like Whittier are one of many reasons that Alaska is a place that every seasoned traveler must visit at least once. June's Whittier Bed and Breakfast Condos is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Whittier, offering many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. 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 We Say, Yes! Your browser is out of date or unsupported. Time to Sell? The average 3 Bedroom Apartment in Whittier is $1,585. "No kid in this school can sit in the back of the classroom and not do something. Your email address will not be published. The tower is actually three structures mashed into one: an east building, a middle building, and a west building, combined over four years from 1953 to 1957. The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Too costly and dangerous to demolish, the building is still there today. Begich Towers is an interesting housing complex where 95% of the Whittier population lives in this one 14 story condo building. 762 SqFt Condo In Begich Towers for sale in Whittier, AK. Most of the 200-odd residents of the Alaskan town of Whittier all live in the same 14-story condominium - Begich Towers - located on the edge of town. Parents dont have to worry about kids and traffic at the indoor playground. It's wild, but tame. 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. The population of the city is over 200 people. The Begich Towers Condominium Association of Apartment Owners was incorporated in 1974 as a 196-unit condo community. It was built in 1954 . 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. At 11 pm the tunnel is locked for the night. 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 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. ", "That there's nothing to do here," said Shen. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. The Hodge Building was part of a larger project meant to include the construction of ten other similar buildings for military use. In Whittier's 99693 neighborhood, moving to this community offers plenty of nearby highlights. Experience Whittier living at Begich Towers. During the summer months, when the sun shines 22 hours a dayvisitors from around the world who are curious about life in Begich Towers flock to Whittier. The Begich Towers Condominium is a building in the small city of Whittier, Alaska. The Hodge and the Buckner Composite building, dubbed a city under one roof, are the largest most modern inhabited structures built by the Corps of Engineers since the Pentagon.. The massive structures were, for years, the two largest buildings in Alaska. Required fields are marked *. ", "I just want them to know it's just a unique, beautiful place in its own way," he said. 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. There is almost no reason to leave the building, which on some days, is a major benefit because the city of Whittier is also famous for its windy and rainy weather. The towers are not 100% occupied. The smallest homes in the building are efficiency units, largerfloor plans have two or three bedrooms. There's a police station on one side, and a post office on the other. About 225 people live here, most of the town. It was named the Hodge Building in memory of Colonel William Walter Hodge, commander of the 93rd Engineer Regiment on the Alcan Highway. "But, everything's here. This page was last edited on 21 December 2022, at 18:47. "We don't need all of the so-called conveniences of a large city. 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. right?". Heres How To Choose, Where To Buy & More. The purpose of the bomb-proof mid-century Hodge Building was to support a remote logistics station in Whittier, Alaska. 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. Construction started with the Hodge Building, along with the Buckner Building 660 yards (600m) to the northeast, with both opening in 1957. 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. from . Nothings going to burn down.. 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. Because the winters are so ferocious, the towns only playground is indoors. (Not only do books take up a lot of space, but they have a tendency to mold on boats.) The population drops to less than two hundred, and the streets empty as most of the town moves back indoors. Avoid Scams and Fraud. on ActiveRain. Of course, not all residents are friends with each other, but they help each other if required. First published on May 23, 2021 / 9:54 AM. The search was called off after 39 days; the plane and its four passengers were never found. Alaska's laws often reflect the needs of a sparsely populated state, which presents challenges for policing within 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. The waitlist is often 10-20 years. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. About 300 or so residents live here year-round, many of them new families. The town of Whittier, AK is served by a tunnel with a toll of $13 per round trip. "Yeah, it is known as the weirdest city in Alaska," said her husband, Dave Dickason, who is Whittier's Mayor. Completed in 1957, the building has a rectangular plan and a flat roof. You have to be willing to work with each other.". Whittiers school is connected to Begich Towers by an underground tunnel, so young residents never have to brave harsh wind and snow on their way to the classroom. 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. Today the ACS building is home to the Anchor Inn. The Begich Towers Condominium is a building in the small town of Whittier, Alaska. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. There is also a small Baptist church, two floors of bed and breakfast daily rentals, a conference room, and an indoor playground at the school. I mean, when you think of all those things that you value in a community, we found that here. Whats it like inside? 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. The 14-story Begich Towers Incorporated, known around these parts simply as BTI, is probably the last thing you'd expect to see in an outpost as remote as this. It was named the Hodge Building in memory of Colonel William Walter Hodge, commander of the 93rd Engineer Regiment on the Alcan Highway. Alaska Railroad is the largest land owner, but it doesnt pay property taxes and employs few locals. Some people love it because IT CAN BE REALLY SOCIAL. 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. 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. But is it? In the summertime Whittier is bustling. [ During the winter of 1956/57, the Port of Whittier received a record snowfall of 72 feet. Most condos have extensively updated and remodeled since then. 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. From amenities to availability, the community staff will be ready to help you find your perfect apartment. Named in honor of General Simon Bolivar Buckner, the large building crammed an entire military post into one building. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations. Shuford, originally from North Carolina, now lives on the 12th floor of what some describe as the "Wilderness Tower." 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. Dave Schofield is the chief of police in Whittier. Seward Highway south to Portage Road, go east to, Free Community and Demographic Reports for Whittier, Access detailed information on Whittier Community School, Home Prices in Anchorage Alaska for March 2018, Home Prices in Anchorage Alaska for February 2018, Home Prices in Anchorage Alaska for November 2017, View all Activerain Blog Posts By Katrina Benton. Begich Towers also features a small bed and breakfast so that visitors can experience Whitters warm sense of community. Whittier is relatively close to Anchorage, Alaskabut it is still difficult to access. 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 exterior of the building is getting power-washed and painted and inside the tan colored hallways have been replaced by bright yellow. The building is composed of brick and steel, making it safe . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The complex has a shop . [ Before the tunnel conversion began, BTI condos sold for as little as $9,000. 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. When the sun returns to the sky, residents pour out of BTI in shorts and T-shirts. Most of the local businesses in Whittier are in the triangle by the waterfront or Anchor Inn building, but employment options are limited. In addition to residential apartments, the building houses Whittiers grocery store, laundromat, medical clinic, police department, post office, and the city offices. Residents sell food and crafts to visitors, but most of the tourists money goes straight out the tunnel. 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 In addition to the residential units, the first floor has several businesses: a laundry mat, Post Office, condo association offices and more. Whittier, Alaska, about 60 miles from Anchorage, is both beautiful and yet gritty. On December 17th, 1945 the Army allowed the Alaska Railroad Company (the towns chief non-government tenant) to assume operations in Whittier. When we shot this photo, the wind was blowing upwards of 60 mph and there were no other customers in the bar. [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. Comfortable floor plans and panoramic views will make you feel right at home in the Begich Towers Condos in Whittier AK. More Info. After the army left in 1960, Whittier citizens took over the building's 196 units. The path to Whittier goes straight under a mountain, into a tunnel bored through more than two miles of solid rock. The majority of the Alaska Railroad workers commute from Anchorage,as does Whittiers mayor and all but one of the towns police officers. It's accessible, but also very remote. Dock hands who unload the supply barges in Whittier also shuttle in from Anchorage once a week. The school (yes, there is one; it's connected to the building by, you guessed it, yet another tunnel) currently has about 50 students ages 3-18. All Rights Reserved. The Anchor Inn, a combination hotel, bar, and restaurantthe only bar or restaurant open year-roundis a five-minute walk from BTI. At 18:47 Apartment Owners was incorporated in 1974 as a 196-unit condo.! Web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests people love it it... For military use mid-century Hodge building was part of a large city REALLY.! Hotel, bar, and restaurantthe only bar or restaurant open year-roundis a five-minute walk from.... We do n't need all of the 93rd Engineer Regiment on the Alcan Highway the local businesses in also! Employment options are limited Walter Hodge, commander of the building is composed of brick and steel, making safe... 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