Urban Transformations: The Reinvention of Eskisehir, Turkey from Dump to Destination

The document details the transformation of Eskişehir, Turkey, following a 1999 earthquake and the subsequent launch of the Eskişehir Urban Development Project. Led by Mayor Yılmaz Büyükerşen, the city implemented an integrated strategy to modernize transport and restore the environment, specifically by dredging the Porsuk River, establishing a light rail system (EsTram), and creating extensive pedestrian zones and green spaces. These interventions led to significant increases in tourism, property values, and public accessibility, while improving the city's resilience to flooding and pollution.

• The Eskişehir Urban Development Project utilized a 7.8 magnitude earthquake as a catalyst to implement an integrated series of investments focused on modernizing transport and environmental cleanup.
• Environmental restoration centered on the Porsuk River, which had previously been a dumping site; efforts included dredging sludge and debris, upgrading wastewater infrastructure, and installing flood protection.
• The city overhauled its mobility by introducing the EsTram light rail system, replacing steep bridges with level ones, and creating pedestrian-only zones in the city center to improve accessibility for the elderly and wheelchair users.
• The urban transformation resulted in substantial economic and environmental gains, including a 430 percent increase in domestic tourism, an 820 percent increase in international tourism, and a tripling of property values near tram stations.
• Eskişehir's model of river restoration and bridge upgrading has served as a reference for other cities, including Brussels, Belgium, and Awaza, Turkmenistan.

APA

World Resources Institute (2019). Urban Transformations: The Reinvention of Eskisehir, Turkey from Dump to Destination. https://www.wri.org/insights/urban-transformations-reinvention-eskisehir-turkey-dump-destination

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Urban Transformations: The Reinvention of Eskisehir, Turkey from Dump to Destination. 2019. https://www.wri.org/insights/urban-transformations-reinvention-eskisehir-turkey-dump-destination.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Urban Transformations: The Reinvention of Eskisehir, Turkey from Dump to Destination |date=28 March 2019 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/urban-transformations-reinvention-eskisehir-turkey-dump-destination |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2019urban, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Urban Transformations: The Reinvention of Eskisehir, Turkey from Dump to Destination}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/urban-transformations-reinvention-eskisehir-turkey-dump-destination}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }