Urban Regeneration that does not Create Migration and the Segregation of Gentrification: A Case Study of Yenimahalle Mehmet Akif Ersoy Neighborhood, Ankara

Neoliberal policies, including ones relating to health, education, and urban transformation, impact various aspects of daily life in Turkey. Gentrification is a prominent topic in discussions and research which considers the question of how urban transformation practices in the context of gentrification affect economic and social life. The neighbourhood of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, an area of urban transformation in the Yenimahalle district of Ankara, was examined to investigate this question. The first phase of this renovation project was completed in 2011 through the collaboration of Yenimahalle Municipality and the private sector, specifically the YDA construction company. This study uses semi-structured interviews with 47 participants to analyse the perspectives and experiences of the local residents and individuals who use the social facilities on a daily basis. The first interlocutors of urban transformation, former slum owners, believe that the purpose of transformation is economic profit. This group consider the new environment being offered to them as being little more than a modern slum. According to the participants who relocated to the region after the urban transformation, while the project was successful due to the location of the region, they felt that the transformation should have been carried out in a more equitable manner. Additionally, those who use the social living space built in accordance with the region's dynamics after the urban transformation, report an increase in the mobility of the region and that they feel safe while using the facilities. It was therefore seen that the individuals who utilise communal spaces believe that urban regeneration is highly advantageous for the area. Based on the findings of the research, it was established that economic considerations are prioritised in the implementation of urban regeneration projects, which result in the creation of new areas of dilapidation. As urban regeneration initiatives, in addition to physical revitalisation, may lead to consequences such as increased profit and gentrification, finding common points of agreement for the demands and expectations of all stakeholders and users can increase the success of urban transformation initiatives.