POLS 304 LOCAL GOVERNMENT & GOVERNANCE URBAN TRANSFORMATION PROCESS IN TURKEY

HISTORY OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN TURKEY The first quarter of the 20th century, soon after the Second World War, made urban reorganization inevitable. The economies of the post-war period and the social problems led to the start of a big decline in cities. Issues such as transformation of a city structure and redevelopment of the cities coincide with this period. The attempts of urban transformation in all cities all over the world – primarily in American and European cities – started in that period. In 1950s, the process which continued as demolishing the deteriorated parts of urban structure and establishing new cities was later replaced by the concepts like urban rehabilitation and urban regeneration. Urban rehabilitation, urban regeneration and urban reorganization specifically refers to actions being taken with regard to settlements (i.e. housing)

HISTORY OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN TURKEY However, while the settlements in the cities were being transformed, their size grew and the city population and population densities increased rapidly. As a result, the efforts of urban transformation were not able to keep up with the speed of urbanization. Even though these experiences and methods which planning underwent in the West were partially reflected to Turkey, it cannot be said that the approach of planning passed through a qualitative transformation period. In the world, instead of the preservation approach and the projects of regeneration of urban areas which gained importance in 1980s, it is seen that urban transformation arrangements in Turkey only really started in mid 1990s.

HISTORY OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN TURKEY When the planning experiences of Turkey and the West are compared, it is seen that Turkey has remained far behind the conceptual development of planning. It is observed that new planning strategies and new developments have a great impact on developing countries and Turkey, as one of them. Turkey, in one hand, is re-commenting on these transformation policies, and on the other hand, a modern approach is considered to be obligatory. This strong tendency is backed by European Union adaptation process, development of network webs, globalization and various other developments.

HISTORY OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN TURKEY From 1980s onwards, different transformation processes have been experienced in different cities. As a result of this development, new urban problems emerged in the areas where transformation was achieved with improvement plans. In order to solve these urban problems, local authorities have attempted to bring up different suggestions of solution. Today, we see that there is a method of gaining valuable pieces of areas which are considered as squatter areas. A 'Squatter’ is a person who settles in or occupies property with no legal claim to the property. A squatter is one who resides on a property to which he or she has no title, right or lease.

HISTORY OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN TURKEY In Turkey, the process of urban transformation continues under more complex conditions in comparison with many other countries. It would be right to search for the reason of this in the socio-cultural, economic and legal-government identities of our country. Especially the process of immigration to cities that broke out in 1950s is the main reason underlying all the urban problems. It is unfortunate that Turkey has not been able to pursue a planned demographic policy and urban development. It has not been possible to form a policy of urban development neither with five-year development plans nor with regional and city plans.

HISTORY OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN TURKEY The laws and governmental system have influenced this negative process and resulted in the rise of urban problems. Lack of control, which is one of the fundamentals of governmental systems and the construction exemptions that have passed in the parliament have had the primary roles in legalization process of illegal constructions in Turkey.

PROBLEMS When urban development, which is mostly unplanned, disorganized and operating outside a scientific basis and planning, was combined with urban decline processes, new problem areas have emerged. Urban decline in big cities and metropolitan areas does not only have economic or spatial impacts, but also have social consequences. The population which immigrates to a big city tends to choose not only the squatter areas, but they also settle down in the areas which have begun to deteriorate. Low rents and cheap houses for sale in such areas seem to affect people’s preference of place for settling down. However, the sociocultural and economic qualities of this new population cause unconscious use of these areas, and as a result, they face the danger of urban decline in time. Moving the new economic centers to the other parts of a big metropolitan area draws the new investments to these new areas, and, in the end, speeds up the process of urban decline.

SOLUTıON? Urban transformation is not only a important issues in Turkey but it is also on the whole world’s agenda. The efforts for searching solutions, in which international organizations, academic circles, governments and local municipalities, private sector and public sector are involved, also bring conceptual definitions with them. As urban transformation requires different applications in different countries, cities, and regions, it also gains various meanings. However, in general, this concept can be defined as regaining the 4 urban areas - through certain social and economic programs - which have lost their qualities in time and declined with respect to their physical and environmental characteristics and faced social and economical isolation

SQUATTER AREAS Whereas urban transformation activities in Europe are applied in decayed areas which have lost their economic value, the transformation of the squatter areas forms the most important part of the urban transformation applications in Turkey. The transformation of urban areas consists of projects aiming at redevelopment within urban settlement area for the purposes of preservation and rehabilitation within the framework of a program, and covers the problem areas which need to be reorganized.

SQUATTER AREAS The problems of housing is among the foremost challenges that are encountered by low income households in Turkey Poverty makes it very difficult and almost impossible for low income earners to own a house in Turkey As a result, these group of people are often found settling in shantytowns (gecekondular).

IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS Today in Turkey, one of the most fundamental reasons of the problems of urban transformation is that holistic planning approaches cannot be developed. The urban transformation projects which were applied in our cities are projects aiming to transform the neighborhoods part by part. On the other hand, in areas where transformation projects will be applied, a holistic planning approach needs to be developed which assesses the social, spatial, and economic data together with the development dynamics of a region, and which interferes with a city with more dynamic tools. This new sustainable and holistic planning approach is called “urban transformation approach”.

WHAT ıS URBAN TRANSFORMATıON? ‘a comprehensive and integrated vision and action which leads to the resolution of urban problems and which seeks to bring about a lasting improvement in the economic, physical, social and environmental condition of an area that has been subject to change’. Urban transformation interventions may vary according to the problems of localities. Some may aim to revitalize a declining activity, or a social function; to encourage social integration in the areas suffering from social exclusion; and/or to return the environmental and ecological deprivation back to a balanced level, while others may aim to regularize squatter areas and illegal urban developments, and to redevelop urban areas where standards of quality of life are highly low compared to other parts of the city. Therefore, urban transformation interventions need to have a deep and multifaceted understanding of the processes and sources of urban problems, and they should be the outcome of an agreement on what one is trying to achieve and how

WHAT IS URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN TURKEY? According to one definition, transformation is “ a process which provides redevelopment or change of old urban settlements in line with today’s social and economic conditions”. In other words, urban transformation is defined as “re-planning the present cities and centers and applying this in order to redesign and suit them to today’s requirements”. Also, in another definition, urban transformation is expressed as “bringing a whole city or a part of it – by means of public investment or help- to the level of today’s changing conditions for the purpose of clearance of poor neighborhoods, for improving and protecting the buildings and providing better housing and public buildings”, and with this definition, the important role of the government in renewal applications is also emphasized.

PURPOSE OF URBAN TRANSFORMATıON 1.to establish the direct relationship between ‘urban physical conditions’ and ‘social deprivation’; 2.to respond to the continued changing urban needs and demands in time; 3.to achieve economic success as a foundation for urban prosperity and quality of life; 4.to respond to the need to make the best possible use of urban land and to avoid urban sprawl; 5.to show the importance of recognition that urban policy mirrors the dominant social conventions and political forces of the day

URBAN TRANSFORMATıON ıN TURKEY Starting from the 19th century to today, various urban transformation interventions have appeared in order to solve the problems of urban deprivation and decline in both Western and Turkish cities. Urban renewal, urban reconstruction, urban development and redevelopment, urban improvement, urban rehabilitation, urban preservation, urban conservation, infill development, urban refurbishment, re-urbanization, urban (re)strengthening and urban relocation are some of these urban transformation interventions emerged within the last two centuries. Among them, especially urban development, urban redevelopment and urban regeneration have become the most common urban transformation interventions over the last three decades.

URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN TURKEY In general, urban transformation has been defined as “comprehensive vision and action” which tries to solve urban problems and provide for permanent solutions regarding the economical, physical, social and environmental conditions of a district undergoing specific changes. This definition has been linked to three fundamental issues. In this context, urban transformation: 1. Is intended to change the nature of a place and in the process to involve the resident community and other actors with a stake in its future. 2. Embraces multiple objectives and activities and activities that across the main functional responsibilities of government, depending on the area’s particular problems and potential. 3. Usually involves some form of partnership working among different stakeholders, although the specific institutional form of partnership can vary

URBAN DECLINE Our cities today are experiencing an urban decline as a result of such causes as overpopulation, economic conditions, lack of social consciousness and wrong selection of a place. The experience of decay due to various factors has led the responsible authorities in such cities to the search for solutions to eliminate this decay.

INTERVENTION METHODS In Turkey, often the intervention methods utilized in the West have been adopted or followed closely by the planning authorities, in order to find a solution to the prevailing urban problems. Yet, due to the structural/institutional differences between the societies and the different dynamics of change operating, the western methods of intervention have remained insufficient in transforming the urban space socially and economically and spatial transformation was conceived only in terms of a “physical” transformation.

PROBLEMS OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION The existing law is not a bottom up but a top down instrument for implementation Under this law, citizens will have the right to object but they will not have the right to claim a stay of execution. The demolishing party will first carry out the demolishment, then only a proper registration will take place Citizens are expected to evacuate through their own means Risky buildings are demolished but at the same time new risky buildings are being constructed Government housing projects are not in accordance with the income level of the inhabitants Urban transformation does not take the well being of the citizens as a whole. A lot of economic projects but less on the safety and well being of citizens.