The Relationship between Street Revitalization Project and Gentrification: The Case of Talas Ali Saip Pasha Street, Kayseri, Türkiye

Abstract

The concept of gentrification was first introduced by Ruth Glass in the 1960s to describe the displacement of working-class communities in urban neighborhoods. Since the 1990s, this process has become more diversified and widespread under the influence of neoliberal urban policies and globalization. In Türkiye, gentrification examples have emerged particularly in the 1980s in major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara, encompassing both residential and commercial areas as well as historic urban centers. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the Street Revitalization Project implemented on Ali Saip Pasha Street, located within the Talas Urban Conservation Area in Kayseri, and the spatial and social transformation experienced in the aftermath of the project, in relation to gentrification processes.To thoroughly analyze the transformation and gentrification dynamics observed on Ali Saip Pasha Street, qualitative research methods were employed, including in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that although the project led to physical improvements in the area, residential functions declined, commercial activities became dominant, and this shift resulted in the direct or indirect displacement of long-term residents. The diminishing stock of affordable housing emerged as another critical outcome of the process. When assessed through the lens of gentrification's defining criteria, it becomes evident that the revitalization efforts have played a catalytic role in triggering gentrification within the area.