Despite Court Order, Municipality Resists Demolishing 16: 9 Towers

A residential complex named 16:9 (OnaltıDokuz) under construction in the Zeytinburnu district of İstanbul continues to stir public outrage as the Zeytinburnu Municipality resists obeying a court decision for the destruction of a number of its floors, a decision which was made on the grounds that the complex adversely affects İstanbul's historic silhouette.

An administrative investigation was launched on Friday into Zeytinburnu Mayor Murat Aydın and the municipality's public housing directors by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for not taking any steps to demolish some levels of the residential complex despite the court's decision.

The İstanbul 4th Administrative Court ordered on Dec. 13, 2013 the destruction of a number of floors of 16:9, which was under construction, on the grounds that they affect the silhouette of the city. Following appeals, the Council of State upheld the local court's ruling in May and ordered the height of the towers to be reduced by 45 meters. However, they still stand at 85 meters high.

The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on Friday informed the Zeytinburnu Municipality that an administrative investigation has been launched against the mayor upon a complaint filed by a citizen who wanted to be identified only by his initials C.B. In the notification letter, Mayor Aydın and the municipality's public housing directors were accused of misconduct for not implementing the destruction of the floors in the complex despite the court order.

Speaking to Today's Zaman, C.B., who filed the complaint, said he felt it was his duty. “Can you believe a municipality's management does not obey the court's order to demolish the buildings because they damage İstanbul's historic view? Instead of accepting this reality and demolishing them, they just use their political power and challenge the court order, because of personal benefit,” the citizen told Today's Zaman in a phone conversation.

“Obviously it is no longer possible to talk about the legitimacy [of the municipality]. Because they did not start to demolish the necessary floors of the towers in 30 days after the decision was made, they committed a crime. According to the law they had only 30 days after the decision. Even if they started the work on the 31st or 32nd day, they will be guilty of a crime. Unfortunately, we did not see any move from the municipality, even though it has been more than four months,” the citizen said.

According to several media outlets, the Council of State's decision to uphold a court ruling that ordered the reduction by almost half of the 16:9 towers has made many Justice and Development Party (AK Party) members and some bureaucrats nervous, since they own apartments in the buildings.

The Cumhuriyet daily previously publicized the names of the politicians and bureaucrats who own apartments in 16:9, with deed registries in the names of relatives such as their children, spouses or siblings. İstanbul deputy and former district of Bağcılar Mayor Feyzullah Kıyıklık, former İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Secretary-General Adem Baştürk, former İBB Deputy Secretary-General Köksal Tandıroğlu, İBB construction commission President Sefer Kocabaş and Zeytinburnu Municipality construction commission President Hasan Albayrak are only some of the bureaucrats who have apartments in the controversial residential complexes, according to the daily.

Construction of skyscraper continues, causing deforestation in Kartal

Similarly, the Kiler Group, who are in a partnership with AK Party Bitlis deputy Vahit Kiler, continue to build two skyscrapers on a 13,000-square-meter green area in the Kartal district of İstanbul, although the Council of State previously canceled the project.

The İstanbul 4th Administrative Court on Feb. 15, 2013 ordered the halt of the construction of the skyscrapers on the grounds that the project causes deforestation of a large area. The İBB appealed the decision to the Council of State with a request to cancel the previous decision. However, the Council of State upheld the decision by the court, saying that green areas with high population density must be protected. Despite this, the skyscraper project, which is planned to consist of six stories and 382 apartments still continues.

Arslan Ayan (Cihan/Today's Zaman)