It was built by the military during the Cold War as a no-frills barracks. Story produced by Sari Aviv. Several bathrooms still have the original pink tiles and the yellow counter tops in the kitchens. Your browser is out of date or unsupported. There's a police station on one side, and a post office on the other. Most Whittier residents love the tiny towns remote status. There are benefits to living in the Begich Towers. Recognized by ActiveRain as a 2013-2014 Top Contributor for Real Estate Blogging. 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. It was built by the military in 1956 for soldiers and their families and later became a home for civilians in 1973. 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. It soars skyward, rudely. All rights reserved. Enjoy waterfall views from the 6th floor and an abundance of awesome outdoor activities. 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 structure is notable for operating like a small-scale arcology, being the residence for nearly the entire population of the city, as well as containing many of its public facilities. The settlement sits on a delta in which mountains rise to 3,500 feet within two miles on either side. The Begich Towers Condos in Whittier AK are a great place to call home. It was built in three sections connected by metal plates so that it wouldnt crack apart during a quake. Over the years the building has started to look a little rundown. [2] After the war, the military planned to develop a large complex in the area. It was named the Hodge Building in memory of Colonel William Walter Hodge, commander of the 93rd Engineer Regiment on the Alcan Highway. Another Good Friday disaster would strike in March of 1989. Of the thirteen Whittier residents who perished in the Good Friday (or Great Alaskan) Earthquake, only one body was recovered. ]. 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 first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. It is 14 floors high and is made up of three modules connected together. The purpose of the bomb-proof mid-centuryHodge Building was to support a remote logistics station in Whittier, Alaska. right?". 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. Recreational activities near Begich Towers Apartments are plentiful. 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 This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. On our first night in town, a small earthquake hit, but we thought it was just another gust of wind rattling the windowpanes. Because Whittier is surrounded by mountains, connecting it to other towns required significant tunneling. Most condos have extensively updated and remodeled since then. from . 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. They were engineering marvels, built to withstand bomb blasts, earthquakes, fires, and 60+ mile-per-hour winds all while housing up to 1,000 troops indoors across its 150 studio, two, and three-bedroom apartments. 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 temperatures reach the 50s (F) during the best time of year. Dave, Anna, and their 18-year-old daughter Jenessa say they have almost everything they need right here at Begich Towers. Mon, Feb 27, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 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. The new Begich Towers includes 196 units, enough to house the entire town. Floral Dresses To Chic Bags - Heres How I Refreshed My Summer Closet From Flipkart On A Budget! ", Cowan asked Jenessa, "What are people asking the most? The visitor asked the firefighter what he should do. "It really isn't," the mayor responded. The windows are being replaced to protect the building from water damage. What is now the Begich Towers was part of that plan. You will not be disappointed if you end up living here. 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. Every kid is seen. "Before you judge the town of Whittier, you need to come visit it first.". Wildlife Photographer Captures Rare Photo Of Three-Headed Cheetah, What's The Story Behind It? 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. In the 1950s the United States government built a bunker of a residential skyscraper in the Alaskan wilderness. All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified for accuracy. Prices vary depending upon floor plan, size, view, condition, updating, and remodeling. It's kind of a community under one roof. The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. The structure stands 14 stories high with a rectangular plan and a flat roof. The Kozy Korner grocery store is stocked with essentials. 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. During this time Whittier was a SECRET installation known as H-12. 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. Winters paint a different picture. The school is connected to the towers via a tunnel. He was born and raised in Whittier, and came back because it's home. Home prices range between $45,000 to $90000. (There once was a combination video rental store and tanning salon, but its been closed for a while now.) "We don't need all of the big box stores," said Dave. 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. Avoid Scams and Fraud. The Hodge Building was constructed as three separate towers connected by metal plates. Today all but a handful of the towns residents live inside. " The Begich Towers Condominium is a building in the small city of Whittier, Alaska. Anna laughed. The search was called off after 39 days; the plane and its four passengers were never found. In addition, we feature unusual hotels and restaurants. 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. Over 200 people live in this apartment and get every facility inside the building. Did you know about these amazing buildings before? She'd like to move to Anchorage, but her teachers don't want her family to leave, because to lose Lucky and her five siblings would be disruptive in such a small school. Post your own FREE listing! The military was drawn to Whittier for many reasons, primarily because it is the states only year-round ice-free deep-water port. Whittier is relatively close to Anchorage, Alaskabut it is still difficult to access. About 300 or so residents live here year-round, many of them new families. 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. WATCH: [Indie Alaska]I am a Whittier Teacher. Each office independently owned and operated. Some keep them for watching whales or goats grazing, but one resident admits theyre for determining if your husbands at the bar.. Bob Prunella was brought to Whittier as an interim city manager, but he's now stayed here for two years. The Begich Tower was built by the U.S. Army in 1952 to be used as a barracks during the Cold War. The shore is lined with small stores that open up during tourist season. , there was an army barrack at this place, due to which all the facilities are available here. 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. 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. The east tower was built first, followed by the middle tower, and finally the west tower, which was finished in 1957. Between 700,000 and 900,000 people visit the town annually primarily via cruise ship or passing through en route to Anchorage but most dont stay beyond one afternoon. 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. During World War II the US Army set up military facilities in what is now the town of 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. Like everyone who lives on the harbor-facing side of Begich Towers, June keeps a pair of binoculars on her windowsill. Victor Shen also works with students here and he's also a graduate. 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. What is now the Begich Towers was part of that plan. 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. The quality of a school can greatly influence home values in an area. This page was last edited on 21 December 2022, at 18:47. Lucky Medez, who moved to Whittier from Guam in her junior year, is one of three students in her graduating class. "We don't need all of the so-called conveniences of a large city. LGBTQ Legal Protections updated by Movement Advancement Project, Trulia is a registered Trademark of Zillow, Inc. Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Proving the Whittier experience is not for everyone, it hasmixed reviews on TripAdvisor. The problems were traced back to the hydronic loop using water, which was susceptible to freezing, instead of a mixture of domestic water and glycol, which lowers the freezing point and prevents pipes from bursting due to ambient temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius. He also had to get used to his address. Not all transplants survive the unique lifestyle at BTI. Regarding the dating question, she said, "Nobody really dates here because we all grew up together and that'd be kinda weird. In fact, what makes Whittier unique is that all the locals live in one large 14-story building! 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. make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. All Rights Reserved. Following the Army's departure, each building had to get its own system, including the Begich Towers, which had a pair of boilers in a side building. the heat, electricity, exterior and groundsmaintenance, garbage service, water and sewer service, and snow removal. 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. Begich Towers also has a bed and breakfast, and guests are welcome to come. A handful of single-story industrial and municipal buildings sit between BTI and the harbor. ", Beverly Walts has been bartending at the Anchor Inn ever since she moved to Whittier from Texas in the early 1990s. 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 tower was built in the 1950s and features elevators. The U.S. Army began construction of a rail line in 1941 from Whittier to nearby Portage, Alaska. The smallest homes in the building are efficiency units, largerfloor plans have two or three bedrooms. The drive through tunnel closes every night at 10:30 pm. Explore selling options, sales history, home details and more on . Whittier sits on the western edge of the Prince William Sound. Jim carves figures of Alaskan animals out of native Alaskan ivory. June's Whittier Bed and Breakfast Condos is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Whittier, offering many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. 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. He wastes as little as possible, letting the shape of the ivory define what he makes. 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.". Less than ten percent of Whittier's population lives there. 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 In Whittier's 99693 neighborhood, moving to this community offers plenty of nearby highlights. "Yeah, it is known as the weirdest city in Alaska," said her husband, Dave Dickason, who is Whittier's Mayor. 762 SqFt Condo In Begich Towers for sale in Whittier, AK. / CBS News. Some features of this website may not work until you update to a supported browser. Public accommodations protections include being unfairly refused services or entry to or from places accessible to the public (retail stores, restaurants, parks, hotels, etc). Initially there was backlash to the tunnel conversion by residents afraid of the potential population influx. Being the third generation in her family to sell real estate in Alaska gives her unique perspective and experience. Surprisingly, there are not many residential buildings in this town. 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. The Begich Towers Condominium is a building in the small city of Whittier, Alaska. A skeleton crew stayed behind while the buildings were realigned as a sub-installation of AnchoragesFort Richardson. Start a conversation, not a fire. After its military service the building was modified for civilian life. For the rest of the 1960s, Whittiers population fluctuated between forty and seventy people. 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). About 225 people live here, most of the town. 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. 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. The name of the 14-floor building is The Begich Tower which is the residence for nearly the entire population of the city. 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. Sold AK Isolated By. Top ways to experience Begich Towers Incorporated and nearby attractions. The Anchor Inn, a combination hotel, bar, and restaurantthe only bar or restaurant open year-roundis a five-minute walk from BTI. If youre the ultimate homebodyWhittier, Alaska may be your dream destination. 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 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. Some easily adjust and stay for 20+ years. After the tunnel conversion, the trip to drive through cost travelers just $12. I got so many comments on my TikTok saying, 'It looks sad. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them The military eventually withdrew from Whittier before the Cold War facilities were fully utilized, leaving the mostly vacant buildings to the town. It is one of Alaska's most famous buildings, mostly, because more than half of Whittier lives here. The Pre-K through 12th grade student population of Whittier Community School typically ranges from 30-40 students. That said, it's a hard place for a social life. You have to be willing to work with each other.". Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}604620N 1484108W / 60.77222N 148.68556W / 60.77222; -148.68556 Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 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. Nearly all of Whittiers population lives in this 14-story building. Alaska Railroad is the largest land owner, but it doesnt pay property taxes and employs few locals. 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. The fourteen-story high-risecalled Begich Towers, or BTIcontains a post office, a police station, a grocery store, a Laundromat, a health clinic, and a church. Built by the US Army in the 1950s, BTI originally housed officers and their families, and though its concrete walls have since been given a cheerful paint job, the fortress-like, institutional feel remains. So residents live inside ( or great Alaskan ) Earthquake, only one body was recovered Whittier from Guam her! Population fluctuated between forty and seventy people to develop a large complex in the kitchens now. About 225 people live in one large 14-story building windows are being replaced to protect the building are efficiency,! Salon, but its been closed for a while now. 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