What if a district transformed from farmland to a bustling urban center in just a few decades? That’s the story of Mahmutbey in Istanbul. Today, we’re exploring Mahmutbey. It is a place that embodies Turkey’s rapid urbanization.
Once upon a time, Mahmutbey was a village. It was surrounded by fields. Just ask Esat, a village elder in Mahmutbey. He remembers a time when it truly felt like a village. He once told his brother he was in the village while standing in a corporate plaza in Mahmutbey. His associate was shocked that he would call this a village. But for Esat, it still was.
The transformation of Mahmutbey began in the 1980s. Turkey opened its economy. People from all over the country flocked to Istanbul, seeking new opportunities. Mahmutbey became a popular destination. Makeshift homes called “gecekondus” sprang up.
Fırat, an investigative journalist, remembers moving to Mahmutbey in 1997. Sixty percent of the neighborhood consisted of these “gecekondus”. His four-story building was the tallest on the block. Twenty years later, his view was completely blocked by new developments.
In 1980, Mahmutbey had about 54,000 residents. By the turn of the millennium, it had over half a million. The infrastructure struggled to keep pace. Roads were made of earth. Public transportation was scarce. Electricity was unreliable.
Fuat Sarp, head of the Mahmutbey Selanikliler Foundation, recalls those challenging times. He joked that Mahmutbey was more backward than any village in Anatolia. For newcomers seeking a better life, Mahmutbey was often a huge disappointment.
Two key changes in the early 1990s helped Mahmutbey. First, it became its own municipality in 1992. Second, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was elected mayor of Istanbul. He prioritized addressing the needs of the urban poor.
The new municipality focused on basic services. They built a modern sewage system. They established regular trash collection. The first mayor, Feyzullah Kıyıklık, even tackled the issue of farm animals. He gave residents six months to get rid of their livestock.
Mahmutbey continued to evolve. Old concrete blocks replaced the “gecekondus” in the 1990s. Then massive high-rise housing complexes started appearing.
Despite its challenges, Mahmutbey has come a long way. It now has universities and a medical school. It has parks and neighborhood health clinics.
Today, Mahmutbey is a microcosm of Istanbul. It is a place of constant change. It’s a place where people from all walks of life come together. It is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit. So next time you’re in Istanbul, take a moment to appreciate Mahmutbey.