24.06.2026 10:42
Dozens of families living in Istanbul's Sarıyer district woke up one morning to learn that their property titles had been transferred to private companies through a tender. While it was stated that payments ranging from 1 million 270 thousand lira to 2.5 million lira were made to the rightful owners for houses with Bosphorus views, the residents argue that the real value of their homes is much higher and demand on-site transformation instead of eviction.
Dozens of families living in Poligon Neighborhood in Sariyer, Istanbul, were greatly astonished when they learned that their land titles had been transferred to private companies through a tender. Residents protested being forced to leave the homes they have lived in for years and demanded on-site transformation.
THE PROCESS BEGAN IN 2021
The process covering 7 buildings with approximately 35 households in Sariyer's Poligon Neighborhood started after the area was declared a "reserve building area" in 2021. According to a report from Sozcu, rights holders who filed a lawsuit against the decision initially obtained a cancellation ruling, but the legal process continued after the appeals court overturned the decision.
LAND TITLES TRANSFERRED TO COMPANIES
Following amendments to Law No. 6306 on the Transformation of Areas Under Disaster Risk in 2023, a share sale tender was held for the region. Residents stated that they learned their homes had been put up for sale through a notification made to the neighborhood headman's office.
Allegedly, payments were made to some rights holders' accounts without their knowledge, while the land titles were transferred to Pelit Construction and Nar Energy. The amounts deposited for Bosphorus-view apartments were reported to range between 1.27 million lira and 2.5 million lira.
RESIDENTS DEMAND "ON-SITE TRANSFORMATION"
It was claimed that demolition preparations have begun in the area while the lawsuits continue. Citizens who have lived in the same neighborhood for many years state that they do not want to leave their homes and demand on-site transformation instead of eviction.
One resident, noting that they could not find a contact person throughout the process, said, "One morning we wake up and learn our land titles have been sold. I have been here since 1984. There are 60-70 people here. Couldn't even one person know about this sale? This is one of Sariyer's popular neighborhoods; they bought it by paying 41 thousand lira per square meter. The value of the houses they will sell is between 50 million and 150 million. A basic human need is shelter, and we are losing the most fundamental thing this way. Neither the state is with us, nor is there anyone to contact."