16.07.2026 22:40
In Istanbul's Avcılar district, apartment owner Sevgi Gözcü, who lives in a 4-story building, requested a urban transformation meeting with 12 neighbors. Stating that the current management ignored their meeting requests, Gözcü expressed frustration over the inability to reach an agreement with two contractors. Wanting her voice to be heard, Gözcü staged a sit-in protest for 14 hours in front of her building. Her brother, who came to the building, persuaded her to end the protest.
Sevgi Gözcü, who owns an apartment in a 4-story building in Istanbul's Avcılar district, stated that many surrounding buildings have been renewed under urban transformation and requested that the same process be initiated for their building.
STARTED A SIT-IN WHEN REQUEST WAS REJECTED
Gözcü, who submitted a meeting request to the building management, claimed she did not receive a positive response. Following this, Gözcü began a sit-in to persuade the building management to agree to urban transformation. She came to the front of her apartment building and started a solo sit-in to demand that her requests be met.
"INSISTENCE ON USING A SINGLE CONTRACTOR"
Sevgi Gözcü said, "I am an apartment owner in this building. We requested a meeting with 12 people, but it was not accepted. We have had this request for over a month, yet it is still not accepted. Until my request is approved, I will continue my protest here. We have an issue regarding urban transformation. We cannot agree on a contractor, and we are requesting a meeting to achieve a majority. There are 12 people supporting the meeting. The opposing side is only the management, a group of four people. I will stay here day and night; I will not leave. I will only leave to attend to personal needs. I am here day and night. Even though we have two contractors who could build the building, there is insistence on using a single contractor. We said, 'No, there are two contractors; let's vote and decide based on the result.'"
SAT FOR 14 HOURS
Gözcü's solo sit-in was published on a social media page in Avcılar. Supporting residents met with Gözcü and stated they would collect signatures to change the management and wanted the new management to take action on urban transformation. Meanwhile, Gözcü's brother came to the protest site, expressed his discomfort, and said his sister should give up the protest. Upon her brother's insistence, Gözcü ended her sit-in, which she had started around 10:00 AM, after 14 hours. Gözcü also agreed to stay away from Avcılar for a while due to her brother's urging.