Buckner Building (Whittier)

The Buckner Building is a large abandoned government building in Whittier. Two factors combine to make safe demolition of the building cost-prohibitive: First, there is a fair amount of asbestos in the building. Second, the only land-route in and out of Whittier is through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, so debris would either have to go through the tunnel or be moved on ships. The building is a local hang out for kids, and is often explored by tourists. The safety of the building is marginal, due to the asbestos and questionable structural integrity. Bears are often found inside the building in the spring, and it is full of ice and precariously dangling pipes, wires, and substructure. The floor is almost completely flooded, with at least one inch or more of water on each level. There are cement staircases in the building. One is located near the garage and the others are in the middle of the structure. There are also fire exits on both sides, though they are conspicuous and can be seen by the whole town. The stairwell leading to the basement is pitch black and at the bottom is "The Door". Through the door is the basement, caved in, though still accessible.