Is It Possible to Plan Displacement-Free Urban Renewal? a Comparative Analysis of the National Urban Renewal Program in Turkey
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO PLAN DISPLACEMENT-FREE URBAN RENEWAL? A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAM IN TURKEY BY DENIZ AY DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Regional Planning in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016 Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Professor Geoffrey J. Hewings, Chair Professor Rob Olshansky, Director of Research Professor Asef Bayat Assistant Professor Andrew Greenlee ABSTRACT This is a study of development-induced displacement in the urban context. It explores the planning environment that shapes the ostensibly well-intentioned development projects that often displace existing residents from their established living spaces. This study frames development- induced displacement as a “paradox of public interest” because displacing some members of the public is often justified with a certain conception of public interest. Policies, programs and particular projects pursued under the name of development may distribute the costs and benefits of “development” unevenly, thus, development does not necessarily benefit everyone in the same way. There is one big research question that motivates this dissertation: Is it possible for urban redevelopment to occur in the existing residents’ terms that actually benefit them? If not, what are the obstacles to that occurring? This dissertation focuses on Turkey’s ongoing urban redevelopment program as an extreme case regarding the scope of the renewal policy and the scale of the redevelopment targets chased under a complex legislation. A comparative analysis is conducted to explore the urban renewal program implementation in three second-tier cities (Adana, Bursa, and Izmir). The study investigates the dynamics that shape urban renewal projects’ displacement pressures and the affected communities’ varying responses to these dynamics. This study finds that the planning environment of development-induced displacement is shaped by competition or cohesion between government tiers, tenure structures in designated renewal areas, and the local economic dynamics. Also, governance of renewal projects plays a major role in constructing displacement pressures that destabilize the established communities living in designated renewal areas. Alternative planning vision to address development-induced displacement in cities can rise only if planning practice aims local residents’ meaningful participation in the process. In order to solve the “paradox of public interest” generated by the development-induced displacement, planners and communities need to focus on forming alliances to resist and overcome the hegemony of exclusionary development projects. ii To Pamuk iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I have known the title of this dissertation since the day I began my doctoral studies in urban planning. However, it took me years to write the remaining two-hundred-plus pages. This project has literally been a long journey, and I would not be able to finish it without the support of many people. I travelled to three different cities and met with incredible people during my fieldwork. My first stop was Adana, which I had never been before. Besides all the other kind and sincere people of Adana, Zekeriya, Perihan and Dilay made me feel at home. My second stop was Bursa, which has a very special place in my childhood memories. When I visit the city for my fieldwork, I find the chance to explore the city from a completely different angle with the help of Hakan and Ramazan. Finally, in Izmir I had the chance to meet the strong people of Limontepe in their struggle to defend their homes and their neighborhood. I consider myself as extremely fortunate to meet all these people and had their support during my fieldwork in Summer 2014. Their support for this research kept me going whenever I felt lost, and reminded me that there are people out there waiting to hear about my findings. I would like to thank my dissertation committee members for their endless support and mentoring starting from the earlier stages of this project. Professor Geoffrey Hewings has been an excellent mentor with his uninterrupted encouragement for the completion of this project. Professor Rob Olshansky always drew my attention to what really matters in this project. My conversations with him continuously inspired me to take this project further, while keeping it focused on the key challenges. I learned greatly from him about scholarly thinking and feeling content with my research. Andrew Greenlee helped me to organize my thoughts efficiently and reminded me the value of being ambitious about my academic curiosity, instead of falling for convenience in research. Last but not the least, Professor Asef Bayat helped me to develop a sociological perspective in questioning and understanding the urban. Besides his support as a committee member, I have learned a lot from him as a caring teacher and an author of skillfully written books. And, I have to thank my family for their unconditioned backing not only during this project, but my whole doctoral studies. My parents Emel and Hasan Ay have always motivated me to put my thoughts into words and share it with the rest of the world. They always inspired me to read, read and read a little more. Without having their love and respect for knowledge iv passed on to me, I would not have chosen this path for my career and life. My brother Haluk Ay has been my wise-friend at every stage of my life including the process of this project. And, finally, my other half Burak Yilmaz supported me in every single way possible during this process. He lived with this project almost as much as I did. Without his committed efforts to convince me to finish off, I might have been still re-writing a section on my results chapter, instead of my appreciation and joy for having him in my life. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 1.1 Research Background ....................................................................................................2 1.2 Research Design .............................................................................................................8 1.3 Definition of Terms ......................................................................................................12 1.4 Assumptions, Limitations, and Scope ..........................................................................14 1.5 Guide to the Chapters ...................................................................................................16 CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT-INDUCED DISPLACEMENT .............................................................................................................17 2.1 Introducing the Meaning and Relevance of Internal Displacement .............................17 2.2 Development-Induced Displacement: A Paradox of Public Interest ...........................18 2.3 Conclusion and Addressing the Research Gaps ...........................................................40 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ......................................45 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................45 3.2 Research Questions ......................................................................................................46 3.3 Research Design ...........................................................................................................47 3.4 Case Selection Strategy ................................................................................................49 3.5 Data Collection ............................................................................................................51 3.6 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................61 3.7 Validity Measures ........................................................................................................64 CHAPTER 4: URBAN RENEWAL POLICY IN TURKEY 2005-2014: CONTEXT, LEGISLATION, ACTORS ................................................................................................66 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................66 4.2 Urban Renewal Agenda in the National Government Programs .................................66 4.3 Urban Renewal in Government Legislation ................................................................69 4.4 How do the Designated Renewal Areas’ Residents Compensate Renewal Projects? .74 4.5 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................77 CHAPTER 5: URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAM IN SEYHAN DISTRICT OF ADANA .............................................................................................................................79 5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................79 5.2 Renewal Area a11: Urban Renewal Program in Barbaros-Bey Neighborhoods .........84 5.3 Renewal Area a21: Urban Renewal Program in Ismetpasa Neighborhood .................92 5.4 Renewal Area a22: Urban Renewal Program in Fatih Neighborhood .........................98 5.5 Renewal Area a23: Urban Renewal Program in Ikibinevler Neighborhood .............104 5.6