Neo-liberal Policies in Kayseri After 2000: Transformation of Public Lands into Large Scale Urban Projects

Abstract

In this research, an answer is sought to the question to what local governments' role in the change and transformation of cities as a tool of capital after 2000 is, with the effect of neo-liberal urban policies and neo-dirigisme and the change of public administration understanding. Another question of the study is: what are the effects of the capital-oriented transformation of urban space on urban rent in cities planning, in accordance with neo-liberal policies, and what is the role of planning in this transformation. In this research, it is aimed to investigate the legal changes made for local governments with the effect of neo-liberal policies and neo-dirigisme in Turkey after 2000 and to investigate how local government authorities are transformed. In consideration of this research, in order to investigate how the large-scale urban projects realized in the city of Kayseri affect the urban space in the context of neo-liberal policies. It was aimed to investigate the effects of large-scale urban projects on rent that they were implemented in the city of Kayseri in accordance with neo-liberal policies by years after 2000, and it was aimed to investigate the relationship between urban transformation projects and large-scale urban projects, in maintaining the increase of urban rent and role of urban transformation projects. In order to better understand the transformation of public lands, the decisions are taken in the 1986 plan, the development plans of 2006 and 2017, and the current Google Earth aerial photographs which show the current situation were compared by using the plan comparison method. Evaluating the increase of rent method was used in order to investigate the effect of neo-liberal policies and large-scale urban projects on rent in Kayseri. In the study, the changes in the market value of the land and its rent increase were calculated by using the inflation calculation method. In the study, large-scale urban projects realized in the city center of Kayseri after 2000, as well as the transformation of public lands, and the transformation of its surroundings are handled. Evaluation of the increase of rent experienced in and around large-scale urban projects due to the current market values of the land are determined by the appraisal commissions every 4 years, the market values of the land in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 were calculated. When large-scale urban projects and their site selections are examined, it has been seen that the project areas are constructed on public lands. This change and transformation are provided by the changes in land use plans. The large-scale urban projects implemented as a result of development plan changes and with the intense construction pressure of its surroundings, it has begun to transform into high-rise (density) residential areas. Large-scale urban projects have caused a significant increase in the current market value of the land as of the years of construction, but this increase did not continue in the following years; however, with the existence of urban tran...