Abstract:

Urban transformation is "the sum of the comprehensive and integrated approaches, strategies, and actions implemented to improve the economic, social, physical, and environmental conditions of urban space that experienced collapse and degradation" and started in the 19th century. Intensive and unplanned urbanization has inevitably necessitated urban transformation. In Turkey, urban regeneration started to be mentioned in the 1970s, but it took until the 1980s for it to be projected and put into practice. Fikirtepe Urban Transformation Project covers Fikirtepe, Dumlupınar, Merdivenköy, and Eğitim neighborhoods in Kadıköy district. The total population of the four neighborhoods in the urban transformation project area is 50,000. The aim of the project is to build a living space where 140,000 people will live, and 60,000 people will work on 4 million square meters. This situation increases the importance of citizen participation in urban transformation projects. The number of citizens who will be affected in case of a possible problem is quite high. In this study; a literature review will be made based on the legal dimension of participation, and the importance of citizen participation in urban transformation will be revealed through the literature review, In addition, for the authenticity and enrichment of the study, in-depth interviews/interviews were conducted with the most important stakeholders of the urban transformation project, IMM Urban Transformation office and 15 citizens living in the region whose houses were subjected to urban transformation. In line with our assumption, it is seen that the lack of citizen participation causes medium and long-term negativities in terms of the sustainability of the project.

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