Urban transformation developments triggered by new legal regulations in Istanbul

Urban transformation has been a rather recent phenomenon which a number of nations are facing. Istanbul is among them. Its aims are to improve the lives of the citizens through improving the built environment of the cities. Discussions on Urban Transformation have gamed a legal status in Turkey, with a Law: "The Transformation of the Areas under Disaster Risk". It aims at generating a healthy, secure environment forming the principles of improvement, removal and renewal in those risky lands. Accordingly, In Turkey, in 10 provinces, 24 regions have been declared as risky areas. Some of these areas have been identified as risky by the municipalities, some by the people, and some by the Ministry. This research underlining the paper is empirically based on structured interviews in over 1000 household in Istanbul, as well in-depth interviews and focus interviews with the quarter headmen, realtors, and other social leaders in the community. The questionnaire has been conducted in three quarters of one of the major and largest transformation (sub-municipal) regions of Istanbul, namely Kagithane [1]. The preliminary results show that major issues include lack of knowledge and participation on behalf of the community members; lack of a holistic master plan for the sub-municipal region; and sacrificing for short-term goals of rent/profit, with the long term goals of sustainable cities. The socio-cultural, economic and spatial aspects Qf transformation at the end will be assessed in view of the dwellers whose houses have been in the transformation zone and who are either leaving their neighborhoods for good to the formal authorities; or selling their houses quickly by making agreements with the contractors instead.