Tiny houses placed on private property in Akbük Bay sealed by municipality

A new controversy has emerged in Akbük Bay, which has been frequently in the news in recent years due to the increase in private businesses using the coastline. Eleven tiny houses were placed on a private property in the area by unidentified individuals. The area around the tiny houses was also fenced off, creating an enclosed structure on the site.

Due to the sensitive ecological structure of the region and its designation as a protected area, public reaction to the illegal construction spread rapidly on social media. This intervention in a first-degree natural protected area was criticized by local residents and environmental activists.

Menteşe Municipality had announced last year that it had opened a section of the coastline in Akbük to the public as a public beach. However, this summer, the increase in parking fees in the region from 200 liras to 300 liras and developments regarding illegal structures on private property have brought the debate over the use of public spaces back to the agenda.

Menteşe Deputy Mayor Engin Fırat Ata provided the following information regarding the incident:

"In line with the principle that coastlines are common public areas, our Municipal Police Department carried out a sealing operation last week on the structures located within private property in Akbük Bay that were reported in the press and are considered to be illegal. All legal processes regarding the matter are being carried out by our Building Control Department within the framework of legislation and with the public interest in mind."

Ata announced that teams from the Building Control Department also began inspections in the area today. It remains unclear who placed the tiny houses in question.

It was stated that the process in the region will continue in a manner that prioritizes public interest and within the scope of the legislation.