The 50+1 formula in urban transformation: Is the two-thirds majority being abolished?

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki made statements regarding the final declaration of the 'Earthquake Reality and Urban Transformation Council.' Minister Özhaseki said, "From now on, it is very important to proceed with a 50+1 majority instead of a two-thirds majority when starting urban transformation work. If we cannot carry out urban transformation as quickly as possible, we cannot race against time, and many citizens who set out with good intentions will be victimized."

"680 THOUSAND HOUSING UNITS DAMAGED"

Minister Özhaseki made statements regarding the final declaration of the 'Earthquake Reality and Urban Transformation Council,' which was held between September 15-17, at a meeting organized at the Iller Bank Macunköy Social Facilities. Reminding that Turkey is an earthquake country, Özhaseki stated that the solution to this is urban transformation and that structures must be made safe. Recalling that 14 million people and 18 cities were affected by the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, Özhaseki said, "The resulting damage is around 680 thousand housing units and around 170 thousand workplaces. We are facing a financial loss of over 100 billion dollars. But a device to solve the spiritual dimension of the matter has not yet been invented. Turkey is an earthquake country. There is only one solution to this; urban transformation. No other solution has been invented so far."

Pointing out that lessons should be learned from what happened and precautions should be taken, Özhaseki said, "Currently, the transformation of 400 thousand independent units is ongoing. We are striving because we do not see this as sufficient, and we are trying to do more," he said.

"1 MILLION 20 THOUSAND CITIZENS APPLIED"

Stating that there is a four-step roadmap ahead for Istanbul's earthquake preparedness, Özhaseki said, "First, we will build around 300 thousand houses in reserve areas. We have identified their locations, and planning work is ongoing. Second, we aim to transform around 200 thousand houses with the 'Half is on Us' (Yarısı Bizden) campaign. 1 million 20 thousand citizens have applied saying, 'We will transform our home, support us.' We estimate that we will transform at least 200-300 thousand houses this way. Third, we will make Istanbul a little safer by accelerating the ongoing 171 thousand houses and transforming at least 600-700 thousand of the most risky ones within 2-3 years," he expressed.

Stating that they created a draft at the end of the council where more than 100 scientists came together, Özhaseki mentioned that they have started discussing this with different groups in Parliament within this framework.

"LET'S PROCEED WITH 50+1"

Özhaseki noted the following regarding the 5 main headings that emerged as a result of the council:

"The common opinion was; 'from now on, let's abandon the two-thirds majority when starting urban transformation work, and let's proceed with 50+1.' They said that 50+1 should be sufficient for the construction phase and the licensing stage, not just the demolition phase of the building. These two are very important. They attributed the bottleneck encountered in urban transformations so far and the prolongation of the work to the notification law. If a citizen does not want to receive a notification, you cannot make the notification anywhere for 2-3 years by avoiding it. If the citizen has become a citizen of a second country, they extend this up to 5 years. Therefore, our friends agreed that notifications should no longer be made in the old way, but should be made via e-Devlet, posted on the building, and announced at the neighborhood headman's offices (muhtarlık). Our scientists decided at the council that the financial aid provision of the 'Half is on Us' campaign should be clarified. Within a month, we will clarify even further how the 'Half is on Us' campaign will work, how we will provide aid, and how the process will proceed. Finally, our friends state that filing a lawsuit for the dissolution of partnership after the demolished risky structures become land is a prerequisite. Other problems arise when a lawsuit for the dissolution of partnership is not filed regarding the land that emerges after the building is demolished."
Stating that if the items he listed are not realized, the work will not be able to proceed at the desired speed, Özhaseki said, "If we cannot carry out urban transformation as quickly as possible, we cannot race against time, and many citizens who set out with good intentions will be victimized. Therefore, we have an obligation to act very quickly so that this work does not drag on, people are not victimized, and we do not beat our knees in an earthquake. That is why we are struggling," he said.

Minister Özhaseki noted that it was requested at the council to activate a mediation system to resolve disputes in urban transformation, and provided information that they are preparing the infrastructure for this.

"IT IS VERY CORRECT FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE BUSINESS TO MAKE THE DECISION"

Furthermore, reporting that there was a consensus at the council on having special courts to handle urban transformation cases, Özhaseki said, "Because a few people who do not have good intentions can drag the work on for years by filing the same type of petition in different courts to obtain a stay of execution decision, causing thousands of citizens to be victimized. I am not saying this as a criticism at all; because the friends in the administrative court do not have any information about the progress of the work, grievances arise in the long process that begins with them issuing a stay of execution decision and saying, 'let us examine it.' We think it is very correct for people who know this business to make the decision," he said.

News Source: İHA