Abandoned buildings in Yıldırım are being demolished.

Yıldırım Municipality is transforming the district’s distorted, unplanned building stock into safe, planned living spaces supported by social facilities.
Yıldırım Municipality is demolishing abandoned buildings that have completed their lifespan, create negative images for urban aesthetics, pose dangers in terms of environmental and human safety, and have been identified as being used for malicious purposes. Since 2019, the teams from the Department of Construction and Control have demolished 615 of the 907 identified abandoned structures, while physical measures and security precautions have been taken by closing off entrances and exits to 185 buildings.
Yıldırım Mayor Oktay Yılmaz stated that they have demolished 50 abandoned buildings identified since 2024 and mentioned that abandoned and neglected buildings can be used for purposes other than intended. Mayor Oktay Yılmaz said, “These structures pose a clear threat to the safety of our citizens, especially our children, and turn into places for all kinds of crimes and become havens for substance abusers. We cannot tolerate this. There will be no dark spot left in Yıldırım that disrupts peace. If our citizens who have such abandoned buildings in their neighborhoods convey their requests to our municipality or the necessary public institutions, we will continue our efforts to ensure that necessary actions are taken without any adverse consequences.”
Urban transformation is a necessity
Mayor Oktay Yılmaz stated that urban transformation is a necessity rather than a choice, saying, “The fundamental priority we have placed at the center of our vision for Yıldırım is the transformation of the city. We are working to transform our earthquake-resistant, socially inadequate areas without wasting time. Since the day we took office, we have been combating illegal and abandoned structures while simultaneously working on urban transformation and land titling to create healthier living spaces in Yıldırım.”