Haydarpaşa Gardır Söğütlüçeşme Station!

Haydarpaşa Solidarity Söğütlüçeşme Coordination made a press statement by members of Haydarpaşa Solidarity, with the participation of our Association's President Murat Oral, in front of Haydarpaşa Station, against the request of the Söğütlüçeşme Station to be transformed into a mass train station and a shopping mall.

The explanation is below.

We warn all the authorities once again before it is too late! ..
While dealing with the COVID 19 epidemic, which is called the first global pandemic of the planet, together with all the world's cities, our country is also struggling with urban floods, disasters such as earthquakes, economic and social crises caused by unplanned urbanization and housing policies.
While the whole world declared the bankruptcy of neo-liberal urban policies that plundered the cities and nature clearly revealed by the global epidemic and climate change and discussed the necessity of a healthy urbanization policy; The government of our country continues with great speed, persistence and stubbornness to its policies based on urban plundering, which we experience very heavy social and economic consequences.
For this purpose, institutions and organizations that should defend the public and social benefits have been put under political pressure, science and law have been politicized, and even pandemic conditions have started to be used as facilitators of social and political pressure.

This is one of the latest examples of the grave situation of Istanbul and Turkey's most important Gara deliberately ignored the historical Haydarpasa Railway Station, one of the buildings, KadıköyIt is an effort to transform the Söğütlüçeşme train station into a central station and shopping center, regardless of the needs and possibilities of the city and the city.

As it is known, the development plan was changed by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in an area of ​​65 thousand 370 square meters in total, covering the Söğütlüçeşme train station and the surrounding green areas. With this plan change, the green area left in front of the Söğütlüçeşme train station is far beyond the transportation needs of the railway users, and various commercial functions are given to the station building, which looks like a shopping center, paving the way for an intense construction.

This area, one of the few green areas in the city whose vital importance is understood day by day; Due to its physical and functional features, it is not in a position to carry the heavy construction and traffic load.

On one side Kadıköy Municipality Building and Wedding Hall, Söğütlüçeşme Station with Fenerbahçe Stadium on the other side; While carrying the additional burdens brought by these functions in the environment, especially considering the weekend densities, these loads have been increased with the new plan change.

On the other hand, Istanbul's largest road junction is being constructed in Uzunçayır to serve the Fikirtepe Urban Transformation Area. The traffic load that this intersection will bring to the roads around the station has not been taken into account at all and the health of the city center has been put under great threat.

Also; Fikirtepe Mound near the planning area has an important place with the Neolithic Fikirtepe Culture in archeology literature. The ancient port area, which is thought to include Yoğurtçu Park and Kuşdili Çayırı, is also important for the archaeological potential of the region.

During the construction of the Söğütlüçeşme-storey car park adjacent to the planning area, the remains of an apse belonging to a Byzantine Church, Byzantine period finds and Ottoman tombstones were found during the excavations carried out under the supervision of the Istanbul Archeology Museums.

Between Altıyol and Söğütlüçeşme, many grave finds were documented. These archaeological findings around the planning area indicate that the area is the Necropolis area of ​​the ancient city of Kalkhedon. It is extremely important to determine and evaluate the archaeological potential in this open area, which has not been fully built yet.

More importantly, this area, which is one of the weakest areas of Istanbul, which is waiting for an earthquake, and through which Kurbağalıdere passes, remains in Areas Requiring Heavy Engineering Measures.

By transforming the Söğütlüçeşme Station, which is the main function of the proposed central station located on the Viaduct, in an area with such heavy reservations, to perform the maintenance and repair functions of the train sets, it is impossible to build a mass train station and a shopping mall;

The idea of ​​building a new station 1km away from Haydarpaşa Train Station, which is available for these services in terms of its capacity, historical and cultural value as well as the area it covers in the city and its connection with sea transportation, does not fit the mind, logic, science, economic and technical facts.

Despite all the warnings made by professional associations, non-governmental organizations, scientists and sensitive citizens, especially the relevant local administrations, the plan change made in this area, which is completely public, is imposed on the public with the decisions taken behind closed doors, except for the knowledge and approval of the residents and local administrations. and the legal process is guided.

In cases filed by local government and relevant professional chambers, the decision for suspension of execution, based on expert reports, should be lifted by a higher court without showing any evidence that refutes the determination that the subject of the case does not comply with the principles of urbanism and planning through a technical examination within the scope of the urgent file;

The unlawful and unlawful decision of "EIA IS NOT REQUIRED" while the proceedings are still ongoing are clear examples of the political process being guided by the legal process.

The decision of "EIA IS NOT REQUIRED" regarding this initiative, which will affect environmental health, well-being and safety in all aspects, and which must be subject to Environmental Impact Assessment in accordance with the relevant legislation during both planning and project design, is also Kadıköy It was moved to the judiciary by the municipality.

While the legal process is continuing, any construction activity to be carried out in the field based on the decisions to stay unlawfully abolished will cause irreversible damages in terms of the city, environment, society and public interest.

For all these reasons, we once again warn all relevant and officials before the public.

Develop the surroundings of Söğütlüçeşme station, which is our public property and have been neglected for years, by protecting the archaeological, geological, ecological, historical and cultural values ​​in the integrity of Kuşdili meadow and Kurbağalı stream, and present it to the service of the society, not a handful of beneficiaries ...

It is enough…

Learn from global epidemics, earthquakes and floods ...

Leave Söğütlüçeşme alone ...

Struggling with the pandemic KadıköyDo not stop the breath of Istanbul and Istanbul any more ...

Most importantly, give up your futile effort and love to seize the Haydarpaşa Train Station and its backcourt, which you have been maintaining since 2005 and KadıköyPut the main station of the city into service immediately ...

As we said for years without getting tired

Haydarpaşa Gardır, Station Will Stay, Söğütlüçeşme Station!

HAYDARPAŞA SOLIDARITY. Söğütlüçeşme Coordination