Gentrification within the Law of Transformation of Areas at Disaster Risks in Turkey Sulukule, Istanbul Example

Abstract

With coming in force of The Law of Transformation of Areas at Disaster Risks numbered 16.5.2012/6306 by Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, the concept of urban transformation has entered to our life in Turkey. Gentrification as one of the forms of urban transformation brought the existence of liberated zones produced by neo-liberal mentality. Sulukule area (Neslisah Sultan settlement) which is subject to research is counted among “the areas to be renewed and to be put under preservation” by numbered 2006/10299 decision of Council of Ministers. Due to the shortage of lands in the city, it is observed especially in 1980s that the families in high-income group have preferred to live in horizontally expending villa towns far from the center. While these residential areas are deepening the distance from the center in time, the pressure of housing demand of middle-income people and rent circles who are not planning to leave the city center caused to have an eye on these areas which are residential areas of mostly low-income people and appeared in certain regionsas they are established without infrastructure and healthy conditions. With this law, the transformation has started in the areas such as Fikirtepe, Dolapdere, Esenler, and Banks of Halic.