Demolished TOKİ houses were built despite warnings from Airport Authority

It has been learned that the Çanakkale Airport Directorate noticed the height of the TOKİ housing units, which are currently undergoing demolition of excess floors for failing to comply with air obstacle criteria in Çanakkale.

While the demolition of floors that failed to meet height criteria continues at the TOKİ houses located in the Cevatpaşa neighborhood of Çanakkale's central district, it has emerged that the Çanakkale Airport Directorate was the one to identify the issue. The directorate sent a letter stating "not compliant" to both the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Çanakkale Municipality.

The Cevatpaşa TOKİ housing project, built by TOKİ with MESTAŞ Maden Taahhüt Ticaret A.Ş. as the contractor, was intended to include 509 residences and 25 shops. However, the project, which was reportedly started without authorization and sealed by the Çanakkale Municipality as "illegal construction activity," faced another obstacle: the "obstacle criteria," which refers to "height restrictions for structures that would endanger flight paths."

In Çanakkale, the building height limit, calculated based on sea level, was set at 52.50 meters, and it was learned that the TOKİ housing units under construction did not meet this criterion. The demolition of the excess floors that exceeded the height limit of the TOKİ houses, for which the tender was held on November 28, 2022, and the site was delivered on January 27, is ongoing.

'HOUSING HEIGHT NOT COMPLIANT'

A letter dated November 2023 from the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ) Çanakkale Airport Directorate also states that the heights in question are not compliant. The letter notes that the TOKİ houses were inspected on October 31, 2023, according to the Çanakkale Airport Obstacle Plan, and stated, "It is considered that they will constitute an obstacle."

The relevant letter stated, "It has been evaluated that the heights of the TOKİ houses are not in compliance with the Obstacle Plan and the Circular on Construction Rules in and Around Airports. At this stage, it was requested that the heights and coordinates of the highest points of each of the blocks currently under construction, which exceed the obstacle limits, be submitted." However, it was learned that construction continued illegally despite this letter from the State Airports Authority.

OBSTACLE ISSUE IN 19 OUT OF 23 BLOCKS

It was learned that 19 of the 23 blocks in the 509-unit TOKİ project exceeded the height criteria. While the height limit should be 52.50 meters, it is observed that 19 of the buildings have heights ranging from 53.05 meters to 64.94 meters.

EXCAVATOR WORKING ON SKELETAL BUILDING

The demolition of the TOKİ houses that do not meet height criteria has brought another debate to the fore. While the buildings are still in the skeletal stage, demolition has been carried out for days on the top floors using an excavator. It is feared that the heavy construction machinery could damage the columns on the lower floors and that damage to the structural system supporting the building could lead to irreparable consequences in the future.