Azitujournal

ITU A|Z • Vol 16 No 3 • November 2019 • 17-36
Residents’ experiences of a
gentrified neighborhood in
Istanbul: The case of Akaretler row
houses
Mehmet RONAEL 1 , Gülden Demet ORUÇ 2
1
mehmetronael@gmail.com • Graduate School of Science Engineering and
Technology, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
2
guldenoruc.itu@gmail.com • Urban and Regional Planning Department,
Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
Received: February 2019 • Final Acceptance: July 2019
doi: 10.5505/itujfa.2019.46547
Abstract
The gentrification process has been examined by sociologists, urban planners,
geographers and many other professionals since the 1970s. However, despite a great
deal of research into the concept, process, and other dimensions of gentrification,
there are few studies which consider the importance of the perspective and
experiences of residents and users.
This paper focuses on the gentrification process and its impact on the nongentrifier
residents of the Akaretler neighborhood of Beşiktaş, an area which
was transformed following a major restoration project 10 years ago. In-depth
interviews were conducted with long-term residents and business owners to
investigate how they evaluate the changes in their neighborhood as well as the
positive and negative impacts of gentrification on their lives. According to the
findings, while the majority of respondents acknowledged the physical success
of the restoration project, some of them also pointed out the negative economic,
social, and cultural outcomes it has raised over the past 10 years. The outstanding
negative issues are social integration difficulties, the lack of affordable properties,
changes to property functions, and cultural contrast.
Keywords
Akaretler row houses, Commercial gentrification, Istanbul, Neighborhood
change, Residents experience.