content tagged with urban transformation

Turkey passes law enabling government to designate any property ‘reserve building zone’

Turkey passes law enabling government to designate any property ‘reserve building zone’

The parliament has passed the new urban transformation law.

8 November 2023

February 6 earthquakes reinvoke fears about İstanbul's potential 'big one'

February 6 earthquakes reinvoke fears about İstanbul's potential 'big one'

In the aftermath of the disastrous February 6 earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, concerns are running high about the "big one," a devastating earthquake that could strike İstanbul at any time.

15 February 2023 Wouter Massink

What does urban transformation transform in Türkiye? Stories from İstanbul's neighborhoods

What does urban transformation transform in Türkiye? Stories from İstanbul's neighborhoods

Demolitions continue in İstanbul with urban transformation projects. While those whose homes are demolished change their political preferences, the new residents of the neighborhoods are not the "poor ones."

31 October 2022 Zülal Koçer

Residents of working-class neighborhood in İstanbul vow to resist in face of forced evictions

URBAN TRANSFORMATION

Residents of working-class neighborhood in İstanbul vow to resist in face of forced evictions

"What they want to do here is to evacuate the poor class right next to Merter and turn this place into a commercial point," says a lawyer for the Tozkoparan Neighborhood.

11 October 2022

Police use rubber bullets against people resisting demolition of homes in İstanbul's Beykoz

Police use rubber bullets against people resisting demolition of homes in İstanbul's Beykoz

Videos from the scene showed police officers battering journalists to prevent them from filming the incidents.

Residents protest urban transformation in front of the AKP-run Municipality

Residents protest urban transformation in front of the AKP-run Municipality

Locals residents whose facilities such as water, electricity, and gas were cut off due to urban transformation in İstanbul, have held a protest in front of the Beyoğlu Municipality.

İstanbul's 'Cuba neighborhood' resists 'commercially driven' urban transformation

İstanbul's 'Cuba neighborhood' resists 'commercially driven' urban transformation

Residents of the working-class neighborhood say that their neighborhood has been declared a "risky zone" because of its closeness to a commercial center.

20 January 2021 İlknur Karadeniz

İstanbul municipality removes iron gates in Romani quarter: 'It was like Israel and Palestine'

İstanbul municipality removes iron gates in Romani quarter: 'It was like Israel and Palestine'

The Romanis were removed from Sulukule neighborhood during an "urban transformation" project that was initiated in 2006.

10 July 2020 Evrim Kepenek

Bosphorus View Neighborhood Resists Urban Transformation: 'We Have Nowhere to Go'

Bosphorus View Neighborhood Resists Urban Transformation: 'We Have Nowhere to Go'

Around 200 property owners in İstanbul's Kirazlıtepe neighborhood do not agree to urban transformation projects despite pressure from authorities.

3 March 2020 Evrim Kepenek

Exhibition in Vienna to Host Images of ‘Tarlabaşı: A Defiled İstanbul District’ Subjected to Gentrification

Exhibition in Vienna to Host Images of ‘Tarlabaşı: A Defiled İstanbul District’ Subjected to Gentrification

Ali Öz, a photographer who, for two years, has been capturing images of Tarlabaşı, a district of İstanbul that has been suffering a “destruction/annulment” process due to gentrification, will have a selection of his works presented in the exhibition “Tarlabaşı: A defiled İstanbul district” in Vienna.

21 November 2017

Kanal İstanbul Project Approved in Omnibus Bill, Experts Express Concerns

Kanal İstanbul Project Approved in Omnibus Bill, Experts Express Concerns

Kanal İstanbul Project has been awarded a legal basis by being characterizes as “waterway” in the omnibus bill approved by TBMM General Assembly.

310 Institutes in Diyarbakır React Against Urgent Expropriation

310 Institutes in Diyarbakır React Against Urgent Expropriation

310 Organizations including Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, trade chambers and NGOs have urged the Government to withdraw the urgent expropriation decision.

Urgent Expropriation in Sur

Urgent Expropriation in Sur

Urgent Expropriation has been declared in Sur district by a cabinet decision.

Conflicts in Sur Providing Basis for Urban Transformation?

Conflicts in Sur Providing Basis for Urban Transformation?

The armed conflicts in Sur district which had been announced a risked area in 2012, raise doubts of urban transformation to displace the residents by force.

21 December 2015 Nilay Vardar

State Council Approves Sulukule Repeal

State Council Approves Sulukule Repeal

The State Council approved the court decision canceling the Sulukule neighborhood project that displaced Romany citizens.

9 April 2015 Nilay Vardar

Shack Owner Wins Urban Transformation Suit Against Municipality

Shack Owner Wins Urban Transformation Suit Against Municipality

Yüksel Dum, resisting alone with his shack in his demolished Roma neighborhood, won his tender case against the Kadıköy Municipality. However, he has to wait out the municipality’s objection process.

23 July 2014 Nilay Vardar

Resurrecting the Ottoman Glory of Istanbul?

INTERVIEW WITH EDHEM ELDEM

Resurrecting the Ottoman Glory of Istanbul?

All current historical renovation-restoration efforts account to the reinvention of a neo-Ottoman eclectic style," said Edhem Eldem, history professor at Boğaziçi University.

16 January 2013 Nilay Vardar

Report Reveals Media's Focus on Environment

Report Reveals Media's Focus on Environment

News coverage related to environment and urbanization projects in Turkey rose by 10 percent in 2012 to roughly 57,000 articles, according to a report by Interpress.

20 December 2012

Ministry Approves Coastal Project Next to UNESCO Heritage Site

"URBAN TRANSFORMATION"

Ministry Approves Coastal Project Next to UNESCO Heritage Site

The Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning approved a decision to fill the coastline in Istanbul’s Yenikapı district with land and transform it into a meeting square. Critics, however, believe a nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site is likely to be the first victim of that scheme and that the project has to do with the politics of public space.

22 October 2012 Nilay Vardar

“Fresh” Plans to Gentrify Historical Roma District Back on the Table

“Fresh” Plans to Gentrify Historical Roma District Back on the Table

The Fatih Municipal Council approved a new preliminary project to “transform” the historical Roma district of Sulukule in Istanbul despite a court ruling to annul the previous plan two and a half months ago. Architect Aslı Kıyak, Lawyer Hilal Küey and opposition deputy Gülay Yedekçi said the project could not have been rectified in the meantime.

30 August 2012 Nilay Vardar

“Draft Bill to Abolish All Laws That Protect Cities and Nature”

ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS CHAMBERS CAUTION

“Draft Bill to Abolish All Laws That Protect Cities and Nature”

The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) issued a press release on the Disaster Law and Building Inspection Draft Bill: “All laws that protect the immunity of cities, habitats, nature and professional fields are getting scrapped.”

15 August 2012 Semih Şahin Kaya

NGOs File Complaint Against Fatih Municipality

"URBAN TRANSFORMATION"

NGOs File Complaint Against Fatih Municipality

A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and professional chambers filed a formal complaint against the Fatih Municipality in Istanbul on the grounds they had forged false documents within the scope of the government’s “urban transformation” scheme.

9 August 2012 Samet Akten

Court Halts “Urban Transformation” Scheme in Historical Districts

Court Halts “Urban Transformation” Scheme in Historical Districts

An Istanbul court passed a landmark verdict to annul the demolition of the city’s historical Fener-Balat-Ayvansaray districts as part of the government’s “urban transformation” scheme. Critics found the decision timely, unlike in the historical Roma district of Sulukule.

21 June 2012 Nilay Vardar

The New Sulukule Will Stand, Fatih Mayor Says

The New Sulukule Will Stand, Fatih Mayor Says

Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir said he was certain the Council of State would not ratify the recent court decision to annul the project to “transform” Istanbul’s Sulukule district, a historical Roma quarter, adding that a new project was also in the works just in case.

19 June 2012 Nilay Vardar

Court Rules to Annul Project to “Transform” Historical Roma District

Court Rules to Annul Project to “Transform” Historical Roma District

A court ruled to annul the preliminary project to demolish Istanbul’s historical Sulukule district inhabited mainly by the Roma community and to replace it with new villas as part of the government’s “Urban Transformation” scheme.

13 June 2012 Nilay Vardar

“Natural Disaster Law is a Law of Profiteering”

PROTESTERS MARCH IN ANKARA FOR THE RIGHT TO SHELTER

“Natural Disaster Law is a Law of Profiteering”

Residents in the Dikmen Valley and members of the Council on the Right to Shelter, a local activist group, poured out onto the streets in Ankara yesterday to protest the new “Natural Disaster Law.”

4 June 2012 Serhat Korkmaz

The Biggest “Disaster” at the Parliament

DISASTER LAW

The Biggest “Disaster” at the Parliament

Neighborhood associations, non-governmental organizations and trade associations issued a joint declaration against the disaster law.

20 May 2012 Nilay Vardar

Eyüp Residents Against Demolition

URBAN TRANSFORMATION

Eyüp Residents Against Demolition

Eyüp residents gathered in front of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality building and asked for their land titles. Municipality officers had to make a meeting with them.

4 May 2012 Nilay Vardar

The Demolition in Süleymaniye Postponed a Month

URBAN TRANSFORMATION

The Demolition in Süleymaniye Postponed a Month

The buildings of tenants living in Süleymaniye would be demolished within the scope of urban transformation on April 17, Tuesday morning without any prior notice. When this news was reflected in the press, the families were given one more month for evacuation.

Demolition in Süleymaniye with Announcement

URBAN TRANSFORMATION

Demolition in Süleymaniye with Announcement

There was a great shock for the people living in Süleymaniye, İstanbul on Tuesday, April 17th morning of the demolition preparations in Süleymaniye within the scope of urban transformation without any prior notice. Süleymaniye residents asked for an extra period of time, at least until the schools are closed.

18 April 2012 Nilay Vardar