Sustainable scenarios for urban transformation processes of informal settlements: The case of derbent neighborhood

Urban areas, as a result of increasing population, rapid urbanization, and unplanned development, face significant physical, social, and environmental challenges. Urban transformation emerges as a strategic intervention tool aimed at addressing the economic, social, and environmental issues confronting cities. However, traditional urban transformation policies have primarily focused on physical renewal while neglecting critical dimensions such as social cohesion, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability. These shortcomings have particularly exacerbated multi-dimensional problems in informal settlements, including the erosion of neighborhood identity, weakening of social solidarity networks, spatial segregation, and the deepening of economic vulnerabilities. These processes have negatively impacted not only the physical transformation of urban areas but also the integrity of the social structure and the economic resilience at the neighborhood scale. In Turkey, urbanization has been largely shaped by economically driven and profit-oriented projects, complicating the transformation processes in informal settlements and demonstrating the inadequacy of approaches that fail to consider the unique dynamics of these areas in developing sustainable solutions. At this point, integrating sustainability principles into urban transformation processes emerges as an effective approach to addressing the multi-dimensional challenges faced by informal settlements. Sustainable urban transformation offers a holistic framework that aims not only to achieve physical renewal but also to preserve social fabric, support economic activities, and minimize environmental impacts. This approach combines participatory planning processes, principles of on-site transformation, and environmentally friendly practices to enable the implementation of more equitable and inclusive transformation projects. This study aims to develop a sustainable urban transformation model that addresses social, economic, and environmental challenges in informal settlements, focusing specifically on Sarıyer's Derbent (Çamlıtepe) Neighborhood. Within the scope of the study, field analyses and surveys conducted in the neighborhood have revealed the limitations of existing urban transformation policies and underscored the necessity of integrating sustainability principles into these processes. The survey results highlighted strong demands for preserving social solidarity and neighborhood identity while exposing concerns such as the fear of displacement and environmental impacts associated with ongoing transformation projects. The developed model consists of fundamental components, including the principle of on-site transformation, participatory planning processes, policies supporting economic development, and environmentally friendly infrastructure practices. This model seeks to strengthen social cohesion, enhance economic resilience, and reduce environmental impacts at the neighborhood scale, going beyond mere physical renewal. The sustainable urban transformation model has been designed with a focus on Çamlıtepe Neighborhood's existing dynamics, addressing multi-dimensional objectives such as preserving social ties, promoting local commerce, increasing employment opportunities, and minimizing environmental impacts. Moreover, the adaptability of the model to different regional dynamics and the evaluation of its long-term impacts are considered critical research areas for providing guiding contributions to sustainable urban transformation policies. In conclusion, this study presents a concrete implementation guide for sustainable urban transformation projects specific to Çamlıtepe Neighborhood while proposing an applicable model integrating social, economic, and environmental sustainability principles for the transformation of informal settlements. Furthermore, the study offers an original contribution to the literature by emphasizing the necessity of integrating these principles into urban transformation processes.