Planning dilemmas in deindustrialization process in İstanbul

Abstract

The last two Master Plans of Istanbul Metropolitan Area targeted to transform Istanbul into a primary city as a cultural and financial center in its region, and a competitive city at the global level. This planning objective mandated to concen-trate on the development of high-level services sector in some targeted sub-met-ropolitan areas while leaving low value-added and labor intensive industrial sec-tors outside the city limits. In this paper, the relationship between the ongoing industrial decentralization process and the vision of Istanbul Metropolitan Master Plan for 2023 are examined. As noted above in many parts of the city the existing industrial facilities with considerable employment bases, face pressure to relocate their facility to some selected Industrial Parks or in many cases to off-limits of the Metropolitan Area. However, those industrial areas to face relocation are located closely to residential areas where their major source of the workforce lives. The paper will examine the assumptions of the İstanbul Metropolitan Master Plan of 2009 on the transformation of industrial areas with reference to Halkalı Street Industrial districts. A critical assessment will be made on the role of the Master plan and local zoning plans on deindustrialization process and reactions of local industrial companies.