Demolition order for Orhan Pamuk's 9 apartments

A new stage has been reached in the legal process that began following the "risky structure" decision issued in 2022 for the 53-year-old, 18-apartment Taray Apartment building in Beyoğlu. The fourth expert report prepared regarding the building, which houses 9 apartments owned by Nobel laureate author Orhan Pamuk, was submitted to the court on February 5.

4TH EXPERT REPORT COMPLETED

The final expert report stated that due to the building's location and physical conditions, reinforcement work could not be carried out to a sufficient level. The report clearly stated that the structure must be demolished and rebuilt.

The Taray Apartment building was evacuated approximately 1 year ago. While the residents living in the building vacated their homes, the legal process continued.

Following the "risky structure" decision taken in 2022, some flat owners filed a lawsuit against the decision in the Administrative Court. It was learned that all of the lawsuits filed were rejected and the court ruled that the building is a risky structure.

Following this, the building residents filed a counter-lawsuit with the request to reinforce the structure and obtained a preliminary injunction to stop the demolition. It was stated that the lawsuit filed with the request for reinforcement has been ongoing for approximately 4 years.

"WE EXPECT THE INJUNCTION TO BE LIFTED"

Orhan Pamuk's lawyer, Hikmet Güngör, stated that the latest expert report also clearly expresses that the building must be demolished. Güngör said they expect the court to lift the injunction at the hearing to be held on March 26.

Güngör said, "The expert report clearly states that the building must be demolished. There was a similar opinion in the previous report as well. We have now reached the end of the trial. The injunction must be lifted and the demolition must begin."

Stating that if the preliminary injunction is lifted, the demolition permit will be obtained and the procedures will begin, Güngör expressed that according to their estimates, the building could be demolished by the end of April or the end of May.

RESPONSE TO MUSEUM ALLEGATIONS

Addressing the allegations in the public eye and on social media that "Orhan Pamuk will demolish the building and turn it into a museum," Güngör said that the flat owners will decide how the risky structure will be evaluated.

Güngör stated that according to urban transformation legislation, the legal majority, meaning a 50+1 vote ratio, will decide how the building will be constructed. After the demolition, the flat owners will hold a meeting and make a joint decision regarding the new project.

Stating that Orhan Pamuk's ownership ratio in the building is approximately 60 percent, and the other 40 percent belongs to other flat owners, Güngör said that Pamuk owns 9 apartments in the building.

Güngör also responded to the allegations in the public eye within this framework by stating that Orhan Pamuk already has a museum and that this museum is managed through a foundation.

"THE BUILDING HAS ALREADY BEEN EMPTY FOR 1 YEAR"

Burak Kargın, one of the building residents, stated that the apartment was evacuated about a year ago and said that a result regarding demolition or reinforcement will emerge according to the decision to be issued in March. Kargın stated that the decision should be made according to the expert report.

Another building resident, Tolga Ece, who stated that he lived on the top floor of the apartment, reported that the building was evacuated rapidly after the risky structure decision. Ece said that Orhan Pamuk was the first person to leave the building, and that after the official letter that followed, it was requested that the building be vacated within one month.

News Source: 12punto