Visiting the historical Kemeraltı Bazaar, Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer was welcomed with the love shows of the shopkeepers. The shopkeepers thanked Mayor Soyer with applause for the revolutionary infrastructure and superstructure renovation project he initiated in Kemeraltı. Stating that this applause is the biggest reward, Mayor Soyer said that Kemeraltı will be the locomotive of the city's transformation when the 4-stage project is completed.

Kemeraltı shopkeepers thanked Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer for the revolutionary works carried out in the historical bazaar from infrastructure to superstructure.  While the second phase of the historical restoration project, which was initiated with the aim of including the Izmir Historic Port City, including Kemeraltı and its surroundings, in the UNESCO Permanent List, continues rapidly, Mayor Soyer visited the bazaar accompanied by Semih Girgin, President of Kemeraltı Tradesmen Association, and Tamer Yıldırım, Headman of Konak Neighborhood. Bazaar shopkeepers saw off Mayor Soyer with a standing ovation on the streets he passed. After the tour of the bazaar, the management of the Historical Kemeraltı Tradesmen Association made a press statement in front of the Clock Tower, thanking Mayor Soyer.

“Investment of over 2 billion liras”
Speaking about the importance of the works carried out in Kemeraltı in the press statement, Mayor Soyer said, "This has been a journey that we have been digging with our fingernails since October 2019. Kemeraltı is the oldest and largest open-air shopping center in the world and the heart of this city. It is a place where 15 thousand shopkeepers, 600 thousand square meters of area, and approximately 250 thousand people visit every day. Therefore, the pulse of Izmir beats here, this is the heart of Izmir. But for decades the problems have been swept under the rug. There were huge problems such as infrastructure problems, lighting problems, legal and technical problems. We planned a 4-stage project. We have allocated 770 million liras for the 1st stage only. When all stages are completed, 20 kilometers of sewerage line, 10 kilometers of rainwater line, 27 kilometers of drinking water line, 200 kilometers of lighting, communication, electricity line, 150 thousand square meters of floor concrete, 150 thousand square meters of granite coating and landscaping will be completed in Kemeraltı. This is a gigantic work that will cost over 2 billion liras in 4 stages at today's prices."

Will be the locomotive for the city's transformation
Stating that there are no obstacles in front of the project, Mayor Soyer said, "Most precious of all, we have passed an important stage; we have exceeded the bar. For those who will follow us from now on, there are no obstacles. There are no legal obstacles, no obstacles in the site boards, no budget, no project obstacles. Everything is ready. They only need to say 'let's continue'. If they continue, if this story comes to an end, Kemeraltı will become a lively, vibrant place that we have always dreamed of, living 24 hours a day. The heart of this city will breathe. What we are doing is almost a CPR. For 70 years we have been reviving a tired story. From now on, it will be a very big locomotive in the change of the city."

“They gave us the biggest reward we could get”
In his speech, Mayor Soyer thanked Kemeraltı tradesmen for their devotion and said "Today, thanks to them, we walked along the road with applause, we saw their smiling faces, we heard their thanks. They gave us the biggest reward we could receive. God bless each and every one of them. Thank you very much for their understanding. They suffered a lot of hardship, but they met us with great understanding. I am glad they gave us this support. This was a big move and I hope it will continue. We will never take our hands off Kemeraltı. We will follow the efforts we have made so far. We will do our best to support those who will enter this business from now on." .

Thanks to Mayor Soyer
Semih Girgin, President of Kemeraltı Tradesmen Association, said "At the end of October 2019, we took over the Kemeraltı Tradesmen's Association. With a team of 60 people, Tunç has shown us the same warmth since the day we visited our mayor.  He told us about his love for Izmir and his projects. We stated that the necklace of this love was Kemeraltı. Our mayor has never left the tradesmen of Kemeraltı alone. We gave every training together for the development of the tradesmen from English to choir activities. We worked very well for the UNESCO process. The UNESCO file had never been collected this much. Our mayor Tunç gathered Izmir's components at one table and took all kinds of steps for this."

Work must continue
Girgin stated that they organized this program to thank Mayor Soyer and see him off, and used the expressions  “Kemeraltı tradesmen wanted to see off the mayor with applause. They wanted to send their feelings with words by touching the mayor personally. For almost 60 years in the history of Kemeralti, the infrastructure of the streets had not been penetrated this much. When my mayor said 'I am entering the infrastructure', I was one of those who said that this was a political risk. Regardless of this risk, he did not take a step back, and when our tradesmen were victimized, he went to the feet of the tradesmen with great courtesy and apologized and asked them to forgive their rights. Our tradesmen have always reciprocated this. He renewed Kemeraltı's infrastructure, water line, electricity line, everything. We had the worst internet in Izmir, our infrastructure is changing. The time people leave Kemeraltı has been extended by at least an hour. No matter who it is, tradesmen are statists, they want to pay for what they get. I hope those who come will come with a love for Kemeraltı. We think that the continuation of the spark lit by Mayor Tunç is essential, that the rules and regulations of Kemeraltı should be back on the agenda and that this work should continue in the presence of Mayor Tunç, always honoring him. The door of Kemeraltı is always open to him with love. We send this applause from the heart”.
 
“Izmir history will always remember this signature”
Konak Neighborhood Mukhtar Tamer Yıldırım said, “Our historical Kemeraltı bazaar, which has witnessed the history of Izmir, had very big, insurmountable problems. In this period, our mayor Tunç Soyer started these works by taking risks and producing deep-rooted solutions. He took all the steps that will win the future of the world's oldest open-air bazaar. These were practices that had never been seen or done before. We have always been the demanders and followers of the service and we will continue to do so. This kind of work is important for the future. There is a historical texture here that we must hand over to future generations. He never said no to us. He started these works by producing solutions to real problems, not make-up, and signed the revolution of change. Izmir history will always remember this signature. He never showed a populist approach and worked to win the future of Kemeraltı. We love him very much and we will always be with him”.
 
Phase 2 works have started
The second phase of the historical renovation project initiated by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in Kemeraltı Bazaar has started. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which set out to completely renovate the historical bazaar with its infrastructure and superstructure, has transformed Kemeraltı into a new face from rainwater channels to restoration works, from uninterrupted internet network to lighting systems within the scope of the first stage covering Anafartalar Street and Milli Kütüphane Street. In the second stage of the 4-stage giant restoration project, work will be carried out around the Historic Kızlarağası Inn and also on the remaining part of Anafartalar Street from the intersection of Kestelli Street.

No more flooding in the historical bazaar
Following the 2nd Stage works in the 600 thousand square meter Kemeraltı Bazaar, where there are approximately 15 thousand tradesmen, in the 3rd Stage, the rainwater coming to Kemeraltı from high areas such as the Cici Park area in the İkiçeşmelik Region will be disciplined and drained to the sea in a healthy way. In this context, infrastructure works will be carried out from two branches in the part within the borders of Damlacık Neighborhood.  In the 4th stage, infrastructure works will be carried out in the area between Kestelli Street and İkiçeşmelik neighborhood in order to control the rainwater coming from higher areas.

What has been done within the scope of the first phase works?
Within the scope of the first phase covering Anafartalar Street and Milli Kütüphane Street, infrastructure was renewed, overhead lines were undergrounded, and lighting was provided in accordance with the historical texture. The stormwater and sewerage system, which works with a combined system, was separated with giant channels installed underground. Thus, contribution was made to prevent pollution and odor in the bay.

Floods were prevented
With the rainwater works, floods were prevented by discharging the rainwater that falls in the basin from Kadifekale to İkiçeşmelik and Kemeraltı to the sea. In this context, the construction of a pumping station consisting of 7 pumps with a pumping capacity of 7 tons of water per second was completed. Subsequently, the rainwater lines constructed by means of the axis of Halit Ziya Boulevard - Fevzipaşa Boulevard - Atatürk Street and the axis of 860 Street passing in front of the Economic Congress building were discharged into the sea with the pumping station established in the parking lot in front of the Central Bank and floods and floods were prevented.

Illuminated with award-winning lighting project
Following the infrastructure investments, Kemeraltı gained its new look in accordance with its historical texture with superstructure investments. In the streets where the works were completed, roads were covered with concrete and granite was laid. Construction activities were carried out at night to prevent disruption of trade in the bazaar. The lighting project, which was made in accordance with the history on the renovated streets, was also deemed worthy of the Lighting Union of the City International (LUCI) award.

New seating areas on green streets
In the first stage, the Milli Kütüphane Street was renovated from beginning to end, and it was also given an aesthetic appearance with landscaping works. The street, which is used as a busy transit area, was redesigned and gained a wider and more spacious appearance. The green areas of the street were reorganized. Mutual transitions were included for more efficient use of the area. While the color effect was taken into consideration in the plant selection in the green areas, the planted lemon, tangerine and redbud trees added a fresh atmosphere to the area.  Seating areas were increased with new precast seating units and spread throughout the entire street. The 32 benches produced at İZBETON Urban Furniture Factory were installed on the street. Concrete and wood materials were preferred because they can be used for a long time.

Kemeralti WizmirNET on the streets of the historical bazaar
WizmirNET, which Izmir Metropolitan Municipality provides uninterrupted service in various parts of the city, especially along the 22.5 kilometer-long coastline, has started service at 16 points starting from Konak Multi-storey Car Park to Kızlarağası Inn.
 
Kemeraltı safer with fire cabinets and police
In order to make the bazaar safer, the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department trained tradesmen to respond to possible fires. Fire extinguisher cabinets were placed in narrow streets where fire trucks have difficulty entering, taking into account the risk of fire. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality's Department of Customs has assigned 60 police officers to work in the field alternately for the safety of the Historic Kemeraltı Bazaar with Konak and Kemeraltı Customs Chiefs. The teams carried out inspections on unauthorized occupations, scalpers and beggars who exploit the conscience and religious feelings of citizens. Inspections were also carried out for add-ons such as advertising signs, cloth, tarpaulins and awnings that cause visual pollution and deterioration of the aesthetic structure by positioning them on the facades and tops of workplaces without permission.

Historical buildings rise from their ashes
TARKEM is working on 22 buildings within the scope of a total of 19 real estate projects in order to protect the urban values in Kemeraltı and Surrounding Urban Renewal Area and bring them to the society. It has concentrated its project work on 3 regions, Basmane Region, Kestelli Region and Havras Region, which were selected as priorities among the 19 sub-regions determined in Izmir Historic City Center. In October 2023, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality inaugurated AGORA Sakin Mekân, Martyrs' Relatives and Veterans' Guest House and Village Institutes Memorial and Culture House, which were put into service by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, by Tunç Soyer, Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Chairman of the Board of Directors of TARKEM.

The heart of tourism
The front area of Konak Tourism Information Office was designed as an area where tour buses can drop off and pick up their passengers. With a capacity of 6 tour buses, the area allows tourist groups to easily access the Kemeraltı area. Hisarönü Tourism Information Office, located in Hisarönü, one of the entry points of Kemeraltı, is also frequently visited by tourists.
The Kemeraltı Tourism Information Office, which was opened in Ali Paşa Square in Kemeraltı, receives more and more visitors every month. Located in the same building with the Kemeralti Tradesmen's Association, the office is frequented by tourist groups as well as tourists exploring Kemeralti.