Urban Transformation Gains Momentum in Istanbul

President Erdoğan: “Urban renewal is a matter of national security”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated during a large-scale groundbreaking and key handover ceremony in Güngören, Istanbul, that urban transformation is not an option but a matter of national security. Referencing the devastating February 6 earthquakes, he emphasized the urgent need for disaster-resilient cities.

During the event, Erdoğan participated in the delivery of 798 housing and commercial units and laid the foundations for an additional 1,132 new units as part of the “Resilient Istanbul” initiative. Several public facilities, including a city park, a police station, and a primary school, were also inaugurated.

The President stated that building modern, environmentally friendly, and safe urban spaces is essential to shaping future generations. Since 2012, over 923,000 homes and workplaces have been renovated across Istanbul, with another 208,000 units currently under transformation.

Erdoğan also highlighted increases to the government’s \”Half on Us\” urban renewal support program, raising the total financial assistance per home from 1.5 million to 1.875 million Turkish lira.

He noted that Istanbul’s overall transformation program now covers over 1 million buildings, including 63,000 actively under conversion via the incentive program.

Despite opposition from political and ideological groups, Erdoğan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to urban renewal: “We will not allow any obstacle to our efforts to build resilient cities.”

Public Projects Continue Across the City

Beyond Güngören, large-scale redevelopment efforts continue across 39 districts in Istanbul, with notable projects in Gaziosmanpaşa, Esenler, Zeytinburnu, and Tuzla. Additionally, 34 public parks covering 5.5 million square meters have been opened citywide.

Erdoğan strongly criticized those opposing transformation projects, blaming ideological resistance for delays that could cost lives in future disasters: “Our patience for repeating past tragedies has run out.”