A huge building has sparked a debate within Istanbul residents, politicians and the authorities as it is alleged that the procedures in which the building is being built, broke several rules and also will damage the environment.

The problems first started in April 2009, when a huge 232,000 metre square (m2), area was sold to the Zorlu Gayrimenkul Geliştirme and Yatırım A.Ş. (Zorlu Real Estate development and investment company), which is owned by the Zorlu Group for $800 million.

The Zorlu Group is the owner of Turkish kitchen wear and electronics giants “VESTEL”. Soon after the land which is situated in one of the key areas of the city was sold, there were disputes over alleged wrong doings by the Zorlu company and authorities.

The aim of the Zorlu Group was to convert the land, which the group bought from the Prime-Ministerial Privatisation Authority which is a government body, into the largest shopping mall in the country and also a huge complex of offices. So big that it was estimated to be at least three times larger then Istinye Park which is considered to be in the top five largest shopping malls in the country.

However the plan was halted by the Council of State due to a complaint by the National Architectural Board as the planned building had a negative environmental effect to it’s surroundings and the Bosphorus.

The huge building being planned is not only at one of the main area in the city but it is also situated in one of the highest points in the city, which experts say is pivotal for cleaning the air in areas around the Bosphorus as winds that come from the high altitude area spreads to other areas spreading fresh air (like an air cleansing effect).

With such a large building, this natural form of air cleansing for many areas around the Bosphorus would be halted or reduced drastically which can cause real environmental and climate damage as well as health problems for residents living in the effected areas.

Along with this, the Bosphorus has also got a law enforced that denies any building to break the view or skyline of the area which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year for it’s natural beauty and it being the only city and place in the world to be divided by two continents (Europe and Asia).

However, after the cancellation of the building, the government body which sold the area to the Zorlu Group, got the decision for the building cancellation revoked by the State Law Administration Supreme Council which is a higher department than the Council of State.

This raised more questions regarding the area which is situated in the Besiktas, Ortakoy area. Why did the government body (Prime-Ministerial Privatisation Authority) which sold the area to the Zorlu Group complain about the cancellation by the Council of State rather then an official from the Zorlu Group?

Why did the State Law Administration Supreme Council revoke the decision of the Council of State after having so much evidence that the building would break laws?

Another important aspect is that, the huge buildings in the area was already on it’s fourth floor when it emerged that the Zorlu Group had not obtained the required permits (permission) to start construction.

This information had emerged after a former Besiktas Council Board Member had asked the Council if the Highway District Construction sight (disputed area) had a permit for construction. From this it had emerged that the group indeed, did not have a permit and the building was sealed of by the Besiktas Council.

A decision was then made that the building in question, because of illegal construction will be demolished, but the Zorlu Group then obtained a permit within a day by paying the required $10 Million permit fee.

Another dispute is that the government body when putting the 232,000 M2 area on sale, gave permission for any constructions being built on the land to be no higher then four stories and in some areas only five. However the plans of the building see’s two towers over 20 story’s (floors) high.

This reason why the buildings cannot be higher then 20 floors is because as written earlier, there is a natural flow of air which works like an air conditioning unit to many areas at the Bosphorus and any building over four stories high of the size’s being planned could cause devastating repercussions to the environment.

Also the fact that their is a law in place which denies any building to break the view or skyline of the Bosphorus. Experts are also saying that the size and magnitude of the building will cause major threats to the already problematic Istanbul traffic.

This problem also brings on another dispute. The area was sold by the government body to the Zorlu Group, for $800 Million in which the Zorlu Group was allowed only to construct a four story and in some parts five story buildings. The fact that the Zorlu Group are planning a much higher construction, is also causing problems amongst some people who believe the land was sold for much cheaper then what it should have been.

The Experts say that the Highway District Construction sight is at one of the key traffic routes of Istanbul (Zincirlikuyu Junction) and will cause major traffic problems in the disputed area, near by vicinities and will cause major problems to the infrastructure of the area.

According to Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, chairman of the Zorlu Group, the project can even be called a small district. However Zorlu, are not making a district at Zincirlikuyu but a large getto.

Zorlu said in an interview “why should the public go through that traffic, especially in this area your life is spent in the traffic. In the area being built, there will be 72,000 m2 of green area. With it’s position and gardens I am implementing a project which will be like a small district which will make international tourists come to Istanbul. It will have a metro and a helicopter landing area.”

The lawsuits are still carrying on.

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