Preliminary Assessments About Risks and Expectations in Urban Transformation: A Field Survey in Istanbul

Abstract

In this study, expectations and possible risks from urban transformation process will be examined. For this purpose, a field survey on 4 sub universes borders of which determined depending on a) typology of urban transformation, i.e. whether led by state or developed as a result of accumulation of individual decisions b) closeness to experience of demolishing c) presence of native middle class had been carried out with 2503 people through face to face interview. The aim of the research is to set out the differences and similarities on expectations and possible risks between the people living in the sites where state led transformation or individual/parcel based transformation has happened and between the people who are native and belonging to middle class and who are not. The findings of the research limited to risks and expectations have been discussed. In the research we have discovered the agreement of majority on urban transformation on the basis of rent maximization which exceeds security and disaster risk and will in turn lead to an urbanization with higher ecologic cost and unattended public interest. Another finding is that native-middle classes approach to transformation positively and self reliant due to property/deed security and economic welfare, on the other hand people living close to experience of transformation approach negatively. Third, regardless of class position individual and cliental relations will be put into circuits and strategies of compensation will be followed. Two different paths has been identified as a reaction to the process: while middle classes will seek to form public opinion and act in the social media, people living in the places where buildings were already demolished or declared as disaster risk areas are open both to ethnic and political mobilization and street politics.