06.08.2026 14:40
In the Adapazarı district of Sakarya, a derelict building that was ordered to be demolished after the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake due to being heavily damaged, but was not demolished and was used as a student dormitory for a while, has exhausted the patience of local residents due to its use for prostitution and drugs.
The abandoned building located on Demirkapı Street in Orta Neighborhood of Adapazarı district, for which a demolition decision was made on the grounds that it was heavily damaged after the August 17, 1999 Marmara Earthquake but which was not demolished and was used as a student dormitory for a while, is now claimed to have turned into a den of prostitution and drugs. Citizens stating that the building has become even more dangerous in recent days said that a leak occurred while some people were trying to dismantle the natural gas line in the structure, and this situation caused great fear in the neighborhood.
"ADULTERY IS BEING COMMITTED, WE CAN'T EVEN BEAR TO WATCH" Recep Çiftçi, who stated that he was disturbed by what was happening in the abandoned building, said, "After I retired in Istanbul, I moved to the neighborhood where I spent my childhood. I was happy, thinking I would have local, clean neighbors, and I bought a house about 5 years ago. The municipality said this building would be demolished because it was damaged in the earthquake, but I've been here for about 5 years now, and you can't count the number of people going in and out of the building. The building owners are not here; I've never seen them, I wish I could see them and pour out my heart. It's obvious they use some substance. They can't even control their walking. Even if they're not there during the day, at night 20-50 people come and go until morning; there's no counting them. I'm ashamed to say it, but adultery is being committed. We can't even bear to watch. My house windows face this building," he said.
"THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY THE CLEANEST PLACE IN ADAPAZARI" Çiftçi, stating that he has complained repeatedly, said, "I personally went to Adapazarı Municipality and the muhtar at least 20 times. Why does the muhtarlık exist? Why did we elect that muhtar? His door is constantly locked; we can't reach him. I am someone who had 4 surgeries at once. Even my survival is a stroke of luck, and the doctors discharged me saying 'well done,' but this tension and stress are making me sicker. We all tell each other, but we can't do anything. These people are not ones to be approached; you can't even speak a word to them. For the last 3-4 days, whatever was in this building, they've been constantly stealing it. Since yesterday evening, they were breaking something with a sledgehammer; it must have been related to the natural gas work, and not long after, there was a natural gas explosion. Everyone got excited; you can't see it, but with a single spark, the whole place would catch fire. I went to the municipality, I submitted a petition, what haven't I done. They made me even sicker. Is this how it should be? We are in the center of Adapazarı; this is supposedly the cleanest place in Adapazarı," he said.
"WHILE WAITING FOR IT TO BE DEMOLISHED, IT TURNED INTO A BROTHEL" Hakan Tenekeci, who stated that a demolition decision was made for the abandoned building after the 1999 earthquake but it was not demolished, said, "In the 1999 earthquake, this building was marked as 70% damaged and a demolition decision was made. The families staying in the building gathered and left after the decision. Then, I don't know what happened at the municipality, but they turned the building into a student dormitory again and it was used for years. After 3-4 complaints, they closed that too. In the latest situation, they are keeping people waiting with promises of urban transformation. This building should have been demolished 25 years ago. While we were waiting for it to be demolished, this place turned into a den of filth. In the end, it became a place for drug users and prostitutes. We recently reported this to the police, the municipality, and the building owner, but no one paid attention, and finally, they were going to blow up this neighborhood with natural gas. If someone from the corner flicked a lighter, the whole neighborhood would blow up; you can't find anyone responsible. I didn't see it, but my neighbor saw them breaking it with a sledgehammer. They are trying to strip everything from this building, windows, frames, everything. We tell the police, the municipality, the muhtar, no one pays attention, and then we bear the consequences," he said.