Observing the Transformation from the Historical City Center: Urban Transformation Implementations in Tokat City Center

Abstract

City centers are important residential areas as the gathering areas of the population and the places where trade develops. The city centers, which lost their former importance over time, lost their richness and experienced the run-down process. The historical Tokat city center has also turned into a place where commercial functions have weakened and where poor and immigrant groups have settled since the 1950s. In this process, slum-like structures were built in and around the historical city center, and the historical texture was damaged. Partial protection programs were implemented in the early 2000s, but they were not sufficient. Since 2018, with the initiatives of Tokat local governments, the Kaledibi Urban Transformation Project and Sulusokak Surrounding Rehabilitation studies have accelerated. The aim of this study is to critically examine the urban transformation projects implemented in the city center of Tokat and the social and spatial effects that have occurred/future in the space. In order to achieve the aim, interviews were held with the residents of the region, headmen and municipality officials within the framework of semi-structured forms, observations were made in the field, and data were collected through document analysis. According to the findings obtained from field studies; The Kaledibi Urban Transformation Project remains uncertain for the residents of the region, and the process is expected to be clarified and implemented as soon as possible. In addition, residents of the region have concerns about displacement and being denied their rights. In the rehabilitation works around Sulusokak, many buildings were revitalized with exterior cladding works, historical buildings were renewed and started to operate as a museum, culture house, art workshop, hotel and restaurant. These initiatives are considered as the beginning of the gentrification process in the region. When the projects are completed, a significant socioeconomic and spatial transformation will occur in the city center of Tokat.