‘ Market places in Istanbul are under the pressure of the ongoing urban transformation projects. They are forced to replaced by other land use programs such as shopping malls and prestigious housing projects.’
In the last ten years, like many other Turkish cities, Istanbul are subjected to large scale of urban transformation projects. This is due to the economic development strategy of the current government which promote contruction sector as an engine for an economic development. One of the consequences of these projects is land speculation which force some city parts to change. Market places, particularly of those located in the inner city areas are one of these city parts.
Perhaps, ones a popular clothing and food market known as ‘Celebrity market ‘ (Sosyete Pazari or Ulus Pazari) is located in a high income neighborhood in the European site of Istanbul, Etiler, is a good example of what happens to a market when it is located in a speculated piece of land. This market was located next to a prestigious shopping mall (Akmerkez). In 2001, the market is replaced for a private school project and relocated in a remote area where the market lost its regular clients due to the limited accessibility (http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2001/08/14/pazar/apaz.html ). Very recently, the market is moved to another destination, to Ortakoy where it will continue its struggle of survival (http://www.sabah.com.tr/Yasam/2012/09/10/sosyete-pazari-kullerinden-dogdu).
Tuesday market (Sali Pazari), another a well known market place in Asian part of Istanbul, shared the same destinity with Celebrity Market. Sali pazari was a clothing and food market located in a central area of Kadikoy district. In 2008, the market relocated to a peripherial location due to a urban transformation project which suggests a shopping mall and entertainment center to the area ( http://www.milliyetemlak.com/haber/meshur-sali-pazari-tarih-oluyor/haber.html?haberID=3832).
(A photo of the Sali Market which is temporaly used as an otopark)
(An image from the unwanted shopping mall project, by Hakan Kiran Architects)
After a long legal and political struggle between Kadikoy district municipality who suggsted to keep the site as a recreation area and Istanbul central municipality who suggests to built a shopping mall to the site, very recently, the shopping mall project is cancelled and replaced by a park project with a underground autopark. As a result, unfortunately, Tuesday market is still gone, but at least it is replaced by a park project which is accessible to users of all kinds, rather then a shopping mall ( http://emlakkulisi.com/kadikoy-sali-pazari-yesil-alan-oluyor/178308 ).
(A poster calling to the demonstrations against the proposed shopping mall in the location of the Tuesday Market)
(A children book Muge Iplikci about the sad demise of the Tuesday Market)
It seems like the struggle of market places to survive under the pressure of urban transformation projects will continue. Examples can be extended with cases from other Turkish cities. Nevertheless, what is promising is the increasing awareness of the role of market places for the neighborhood, for the people, for the small scale enterpreneurs by regular people on the street who strongly resisted against the topdown transformation of market places. As the Urban Markets Platform, we hope that this public awareness will be absorbed by governers, planners and architect as well, who will be advokats of a real public spaces like market places rather than supporting their demise.
Urban Markets Platform 