The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change has completed the delivery of the first phase of housing in the urban transformation project in Istanbul, including Üsküdar Çamlıca Mosque, Kirazlıtepe, and Mehmet Akif neighborhoods, with a total of 7,084 residential units. In the first phase, 551 beneficiaries have moved to new homes and workplaces.
Minister Murat Kurum shared images of the delivered houses on social media, stating, “Üsküdar Kirazlıtepe has become one of the finest examples of the transformation we wanted to achieve in Istanbul. We have built modern and functional buildings that are suitable for the city’s texture and worthy of our citizens. We have eliminated the earthquake concerns of the neighborhood residents. We have not let down the trust in our state.”
Residents who have moved to their new homes emphasized the importance of urban transformation for everyone. Homeowner Sevgi Budak stated, “Those who oppose urban transformation should come and see Kirazlıtepe. They should see both the old and new state of the houses. They should not hesitate and give their homes for urban transformation. Let their homes be solid. Let them live comfortably. Let them trust our state, let their homes be built.” “We did not expect this level of quality.”
Budak highlighted the robustness of the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ) residential buildings, saying, “We watched the construction of the houses, they built them very sturdy, the iron reinforcements were laid very densely. I no longer fear earthquakes, I sleep comfortably in my house. The state has not let down our trust. We were hoping to live comfortably, but we did not expect this much. This place is not just a house, it is a living area. You can find everything you need here. Also, our familiar neighborhood, our forty-year-old neighbors, who we have known for a long time, are here.”
Parking problem solved
Homeowner Kübra Atmaca also emphasized that the urban transformation has solved the parking problem. Atmaca said, “Everyone has a parking space for their apartment here. We can easily park our cars, which is usually a big problem in a city like Istanbul. In addition, our houses are cool in summer and warm in winter. Even if we do not use the heating system, they have established a system that isolates the house so that the temperature does not change much. We even inspected the quality of the concrete used. It was really a concrete that exceeded the standards.”
“No more cramped houses”
Atmaca mentioned that instead of cramped and uncomfortable houses, more spacious projects have been implemented, saying, “There is a regulation here, the houses are no longer cramped. When we go out to our balcony, we can take a deep breath comfortably. The number of playgrounds in our neighborhood has also increased. With urban transformation, the silhouette of Kirazlıtepe has changed. It has become a completely new environment now. Everyone should give their homes for urban transformation without any doubt. The state’s intervention in urban transformation has eliminated our trust issues, and we trusted without hesitation.”
