Things That Go Bump In The Night

A 200-year-old building that was under protection due to its historic value & located in Bodrum Gümüşlük district was knocked down in the night, authorities said.

Three people, a bulldozer operator & his two assistants, were taken into custody by gendarmerie forces for being involved in the incident.

The 90-square-meter house, which belongs to a Turkish tourism investor, was located in a 600-square-meter garden.

Neighbours called the gendarmerie hot line because the house was on the preservation list of the Cultural & Natural Heritage Conservation Board.

Gendarmerie officials learned at the scene that bulldozer operator Cengiz Kalman, who knocked down the building, did not have any authorization or license for the operation. “Two people came to me & asked me to knock down the house as they would start new construction,” Kalman said in his testimony. “They would pay us in the morning. We did not know who owned the house.” Kalman & his two assistants were later released by the court pending trial.

Ergun Berksoy, the owner of the house, had no information regarding the demolition & will press charges against the perpetrators, said Murat Duru, the head of a hotel owned by Berksoy. “Berksoy spends most of the year in the United States,” said Duru. “He was shocked to learn that the house had been knocked down. We have no idea who did it & why.”

Gümüşlük Mayor Mehmet Tire said it was not a municipal operation. “We did not order such a demolition, & even if we had done it, we would have done it during the daytime. I also wonder why they did this,” he said.

Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkish Government And Local Municipalities Limit Density Of Construction

Turkey is learning from the mistakes of Spain by guaranteeing that its immaculate coastline remains unspoilt.

This is undeniably a crucial step on the way to Turkey becoming a principal destination for overseas buyers.

The Turkish Government has certainly decided that the Spanish construction approach is not their chosen method of development.

The measures that they have taken in restricting and regulating coastal construction will give Turkey a head start in the global market for property investors and holiday-home buyers.

Unlike Spain’s Costa del Sol, obstructed by towering architecture, the Bodrum Peninsula in Southwest Turkey is a protected area; buildings can only be two storeys high and must be whitewashed, giving the region an authentic and picturesque identity. Furthermore, only 20% of the land in Bodrum can be built on, thus ensuring that its exquisite range of wildlife and natural beauty will be protected for generations to come.

Other advantages of the area include the availability of affordable property, advances in tourism, a low cost of living and quality healthcare.

However, what really sets Turkey apart is the security of investment. The Spanish Government permitted the construction of resorts too close to the beach or on land that had not been acquired by the seller. The corruption involved provoked international outrage as people had entrusted their lifetime savings, only to find that some developments had been illegitimately constructed and were under serious threat.

Turkey is often compared to Spain more than 20 years ago; the coastline is intact and the beaches uncontaminated. Tourism is increasing yet building is restricted enough to enable the growth of coastal resorts without damaging the country’s natural beauty.

A White Paper has been issued by the Turkish Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture that sets out guidelines that intend to limit the density of construction and retain the authenticity of major tourist areas covering the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines.

Cumberland Properties has been nationally recognised as a green company that operates in the Bodrum area. They own three developments on the Bodrum Peninsula, all of which are excellently located and proud to maintain the area’s nature and wildlife. The unique Woodland Regency development is set in the heart of a tranquil pine forest and the development was constructed around the trees; not a single one was damaged in the process. The exceptionally built villas and apartments are in extremely high demand. The development boasts two large, communal swimming pools, a golf putting area and outdoor playground, an exclusive spa and fitness area and 24 hour security.

Redesign For Notorious Torba Junction Bodrum

A junction named after a famous Turkish singer who died in a traffic accident at the same location three years ago will be reconstructed to prevent future accidents. Torba junction, located approximately 5 kilometres from Bodrum town centre, is now named Barış junction, after Barış Akarsu, who died there on June 29, 2007. In the last 3 years, 10 people have died there & 38 have been injured in traffic accidents.

“The construction of the new project prepared by the municipality will start tomorrow,” Bodrum Mayor told reporters at the municipal building.

“The project includes two underground tunnels for cars travelling to Torba, Gündoğan, Yalıkavak & Göltürkbükü. The project was already approved by local state authorities,” he said.

The goal is to create a project that will prevent traffic accidents involving both tourists & locals. “The project will be finished at the end of May,” he said. “I believe the reconstruction will put an end to traffic accidents at the junction.”

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5,000 Tons Of Gold “Under The Mattress”

Osman Sarac of the Istanbul Gold Exchange, or IGE, has said, in response to questions on the rise of gold prices, Turkish people keep roughly 5,000 tons of gold worth 131,3 billion euros “under the mattress.”

Responding to questions on Turkeys under-the-mattress gold stock, Sarac said although gold’s monetary value disappeared following the foundation of the Republic, people have kept their habit of stashing gold.

The global gold stock is predicted to hit 163,000 tons in the future, Sarac said, adding that Turkeys privately kept gold stock constitutes 3% of the world’s total. Turkeys “under the mattress” gold stock forms a potential supply resource, Sarac said.

People holding gold assess their gold accumulation in accordance with their personal needs and can put the stocks into the market, he said.

In proportion to the country’s population, the predicted amount is calculated at around 70 grams per capita.

Source: ANSAmed