It was built in three sections connected by metal plates so that it wouldn't crack apart during a quake. These Are The 13 Families In The World That Apparently Control Everything - From Politics To Terrorism, After Viral Shower Selfie, R Madhavan's New Look Is Making Women Go Weak In Their Knees Again. 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. BTI is beginning to show its age. 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, otherwise known as the BTI building, is a 14-storey complex which has been turned into a condominium association with 196 units. On our first night in town, a small earthquake hit, but we thought it was just another gust of wind rattling the windowpanes. 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. 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. In fact, what makes Whittier unique is that all the locals live in one large 14-story building! The next day we were on the ground floor at the grocery store when a painfully loud fire alarm went off. Grounds are kept in excellent condition. When the sun returns to the sky, residents pour out of BTI in shorts and T-shirts. In addition to the residential units, the first floor has several busine. Valentines Day Gifting Stressing You Out? The population drops to less than two hundred, and the streets empty as most of the town moves back indoors. In Whittier's 99693 neighborhood, moving to this community offers plenty of nearby highlights. But its also a friendly town in a spectacularly beautiful location. Cowan asked, "What don't people understand about Whittier? ActiveRain, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, Call or text 9073010189 for information on Buyer's Representation Services(NO COST TO HOME BUYERS). Our suites are located in a historical building "Begich Towers", built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1957. In 1948 construction began in Whittier on the first of two enormous concrete structures. 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. The Hodge Building was constructed as three separate towers connected by metal plates. These cozy apartment style condos have a super convenient location in downtown Whittier. Luckily there is a drain in the middle of the floor, because church is held in the basement of Begich Towers. It was built in three sections connected by metal plates so that it wouldnt crack apart during a quake. The firefighters response:Go back to your condo and shut the door so you can avoid the noise. Construction started with the Hodge Building, along with the Buckner Building 660 yards (600m) to the northeast, with both opening in 1957. The name of the 14-floor building is The Begich Tower which is the residence for nearly the entire population of the city. The north side has two protruding modules that form two square towers. Post your own FREE listing! The Whittier Glacier and the eponymous town were named for American poet John Greenleaf Whittier. 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.". 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 The first floor of the building had almost everything a city needs to function. And for good reason: Sustained winds of sixty miles per hour are not uncommon. Whittier is only accessible by boat, and a single drive through tunnel which periodically alternates directions. Home Owner's Association privileges include the use of a large common room in the building for parties & entertaining as well as additional s. torage lockers & freezer spaces for rent. After a drug bust on the 10th floor of Begich Towers, the Whittier Police donated a hydroponic garden to the kids at Whittier School. Most of the towers 1,200 residents at the time all Army personnel were reassigned elsewhere. ]. Nearly all of Whittiers population lives in this 14-story building. It was named the Hodge Building in memory of Colonel William Walter Hodge, commander of the 93rd Engineer Regiment on the Alcan Highway. 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 Subscribe to Indiatimes and get handpicked updates based on your interests! In the 1950s the United States government built a bunker of a residential skyscraper in the Alaskan wilderness. But when the temperature dips below freezing, that window narrows to five minutes. Home prices range between $45,000 to $90000. This propelled Whittier into a more important role as other regional ports who suffered more damage were inoperable. It has vacant units for sale and some units belonging to seasonal residents. Some people manage to carve out comfortable lives for themselves within this extreme environment, and looking out over Whittier harbor at dawn, or on a snowy day while a neighbor fed the fat crows perched on his windowsill, it wasnt so hard to imagine why someone might choose the limitations of a place like Whittier over the limitations of life in a big city down in the Lower 48. While following the Rolling Stones across the country during their 1972 tour, Jim Bell found a discarded cardboard sign on the side of the road that read: ALASKA. On a whim he picked it up and stuck his thumb out. People in Whittier refer to Bob as something called "old Alaska"--he settled in a pre-pipeline Wrangle during Alaska's Wild West days. 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. Whittier is relatively close to Anchorage, Alaskabut it is still difficult to access. The impressive engineering behind the 14-story Hodge Building was on display as its three separate towers swayed but miraculously did not collapse. The drive through tunnel closes every night at 10:30 pm. Powered by Indiatimes Lifestyle Network. All rights reserved. In addition to residential apartments, the building houses Whittiers grocery store, laundromat, medical clinic, police department, post office, and the city offices. Behind Whittiers everyday peculiarities is a community thoroughly circumscribed by geography, architecture, and weather. He was born and raised in Whittier, and came back because it's home. When Pastor Kevin Jones got a call from God to become a missionary, a friend suggested he go to Alaska. At any time, a resident can knock on the police chief's door, and students can get help from the teacher for study. The structure stands 14 stories high with a rectangular plan and a flat roof. 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. Like everyone who lives on the harbor-facing side of Begich Towers, June keeps a pair of binoculars on her windowsill. The monthly dues cover the heat, electricity, exterior and groundsmaintenance, garbage service, water and sewer service, and snow removal. "We don't need all of the so-called conveniences of a large city. Each room has a big-screen TV, WiFi, and sweeping views of Alaska. Mon, Feb 27, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam? Brought to you by licensed Realtors at Keller Williams Realty. 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. The average 3 Bedroom Apartment in Whittier is $1,585. Each office is independently owned and operated. Completed in 1957, the building has a rectangular plan and a flat roof. 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. Editor: Steven Tyler. After the tunnel conversion, the trip to drive through cost travelers just $12. Gary grew up in the hills of Arkansas, where he watched the Little Rock Crisis unfold on his TV screen. It has 196 apartment units, most of which are . The area where modern-day Whittier sits was developed during World War II, when it was chosen as the place to build a military harbor and a logistics base for the US Army. 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. 60 miles from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. (Not only do books take up a lot of space, but they have a tendency to mold on boats.) Jim's studio is located in Whittier Manor, the only other residential building in Whittier besides Begich Towers. 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. Shuford said. Dock hands who unload the supply barges in Whittier also shuttle in from Anchorage once a week. 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? ", "That there's nothing to do here," said Shen. Most in Whittier eventually found their way to the building, which was renamed Begich Towers (or BTI) after a missing Congressman. Start a conversation, not a fire. Innovative & Cutting-Edge: This Is Why Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tours Entry In Metaverse Was A Hit! There's a post office, a notary, even a church, all just an elevator's ride away. 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 Prices vary depending upon floor plan, size, view, condition, updating, and remodeling. This has earned Whittier the nickname of a "town under one roof". 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. Of course, not all residents are friends with each other, but they help each other if required. "No kid in this school can sit in the back of the classroom and not do something. The path to Whittier goes straight under a mountain, into a tunnel bored through more than two miles of solid rock. If you have a disability that is preventing you from experiencing this Hospital To Police Station: This 14 Storey Building Houses A Complete Town In It, Copyright 2020 Times Internet Limited. Private Walking Tour in Whittier AK. The town averages around 250 inches of snow annually, but some recent years have seen closer to 400 inches. The apartment buildingsknown as Begich Towerswent viral on TikTok when podcaster Olivia Snake (@livvontheedge) posted a video about the strange . It is one of Alaska's most famous buildings, mostly, because more than half of Whittier lives here. June Miller runs June's Whittier Condo Suites, a bed and breakfast on the fourteenth and fifteenth floors of Begich Towers. In addition to the residential units, the first floor has several businesses: a laundry mat, Post Office, condo association offices and more. Begich Towers residents can even set up a meeting with the Whittier mayor, police chief, or head physician without reaching for their coat and scarf. This means that although there is a pervasive smell of marijuana in Begich Towers, the police can do little about it. Adventure Tours. Floral Dresses To Chic Bags - Heres How I Refreshed My Summer Closet From Flipkart On A Budget! The former Army barracks is often described. Directions by Sea: The Alaska Marine Highway serves the community of Whittier, AK with passenger service onboard the M/V Aurora. It's kind of a community under one roof. 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.. 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. Before the year 2000 there was no vehicular access to Whittier. During winter months, auto traffic is allowed through twice an hourfifteen minutes for outbound traffic, and fifteen minutes for inbound. Brokered And Advertised By: Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group Listing Agent: Michael Schwartz. The post office is near the buildings entrance and the police station is just down the hall. In Whittier, Alaska, almost the entire population of 318 year-round residents live under one roof. Discover 1 park within 9.5 miles, including Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. The town of Whittier, AK is served by a tunnel with a toll of $13 per round trip. 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 . The complex consists of three connected modules that make up the main structure and two separate modules connected via tunnels. During our time in town, a number of residents alluded to Whittiers wilder days, when you could go there to escape life on the other side of the tunnel. [ Before the tunnel conversion began, BTI condos sold for as little as $9,000. The Buckner Building housed, among other things, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a shooting range, a barbershop, and a six-cell jail. Post with kindness. Every kid is seen. 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. Built in 1943, this self-contained secure facility housed the radio and telegraph communications equipment. the heat, electricity, exterior and groundsmaintenance, garbage service, water and sewer service, and snow removal. 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. Fastest Charging On Any Nord Phone Ever & Other Reasons Why OnePlus Nord 2T Is Worth Every Penny! During the summer the towns population swells as boaters, fishermen, seasonal workers, and tourists descend upon the small port. 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. 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. The building was designed in 1953 to host the headquarters of the US Army Corps of Engineers. All Rights Reserved. Begich Towers also has a bed and breakfast, and guests are welcome to come. When Ed first moved to Whittier he was living on a 32-foot bayliner, but it was difficult to heat such a large boat, and besides, he was told the waitlist for a berth that would accommodate a boat that size would be 15 years. Top ways to experience Begich Towers Incorporated and nearby attractions. Begich Towers Condominium Association of Apartment Owners Inc. In Baltimore, changing minds, and saving lives, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" star Ke Huy Quan, "Women Talking" writer-director Sarah Polley: "I approach filmmaking with a lot of gratitude now". right?". The Begich Towers Condominium is a building in the small town of Whittier, Alaska. A police station, grocery store, clinic, church, convenience store, and school are all housed within the structure. "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. What is now the Begich Towers was part of that plan. Enormous, spooky, mazelike, full of beer cans and debris, the Buckner building is catnip for teenagers, graffiti artists, urban explorers, and photographers. 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