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• Ancient Church Freezes the Construction of Skyscraper

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  Rabia Rahimbayeva    Group moderator   Ambassador

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  Ancient Church Freezes the Construction of Skyscraper

  Hello dear IzmirBiz Members!
  
  The plans of an İzmir-based conglomerate to build a 26 storey skyscraper that were initially approved by the Konak Municipal Council have hampered by the natural heritage commission and one of the oldest churches in Christendom.
  
  The commission, before adopting any resolutions, decided to inspect the site that is adjacent to the historic Saint Policarp Church, which is listed building. The site originally held an abandoned four-story building, owned by the Özgörkeyler conglomerate, that was demolished in September because it was unsafe after its roof partly collapsed under heavy rain. The decision to demolish the building was made by the Konak Municipality and demolition work was carried out by the owners.
  
  At the same time, the municipal council approved the construction of a 26-story skyscraper in its place.
  
  The planned building, in one of İzmir’s central neighborhoods, Çankaya, created controversy.
  
  The triangle shaped parcel of land was narrowed five meters on each side and the original plan to building a trade center was changed to an activity center. The height of the building had been decided at 79,30 meters and a car parking area was already present on the location. Özgörkeyler’s request for a 10,500 square-meter area was decreased to 9,372. Justice and Development Party, or AKP, members of the council endorsed the plan for an activity center, yet they were against the underground parking.
  
  Because the votes of the members of the council from the Republican People's Party, or CHP, formed the majority, the underground parking was accepted within the plan.
  
  Once they had a tangible project, the changes were discussed by the Commission of the Law on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage and they shifted their decision mainly because of İzmir’s oldest church stood next to the construction area.
  
  Saint Policarp Church is one of the seven churches mentioned in the Bible and represents ancient İzmir’s role as one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Saint Polycarp was converted by John the Apostle and became a second century bishop of Smyrna, the old name of İzmir. He was martyred by the Romans at age 86 in 155 AD at Kadifkale, which was atop the hill near modern-day İzmir. According to tradition, when they tried to burn Polycarp at the stake, the flames would not touch him. They finally stabbed him to death when he was 85-years-old.
  
  The church burned down in the 1680s and was reconstructed again in 1690, after which there was another fire in 1763 that damaged the church badly.
  
  Source: DHA
  ------------------------------------
  Let's Get Connected,
  Rabia Rahimbayeva.
  
  • 14 Jan 2009, 12:52 pm
  Rabia Rahimbayeva wrote: > Hello dear IzmirBiz Members! > > The plans of an İzmir-based conglomerate to build a 26 storey > skyscraper that were initially approved by the Konak Municipal > Council have hampered by the natural heritage commission and one of > the oldest churches in Christendom. > > The commission, before adopting any resolutions, decided to inspect > the site that is adjacent to the historic Saint Policarp Church, > which is listed building. The site originally held an abandoned > four-story building, owned by the Özgörkeyler conglomerate, that was > demolished in September because it was unsafe after its roof partly > collapsed under heavy rain. The decision to demolish the building was > made by the Konak Municipality and demolition work was carried out by > the owners. > > At the same time, the municipal council approved the construction of > a 26-story skyscraper in its place. > > The planned building, in one of İzmir’s central neighborhoods, > Çankaya, created controversy. > > The triangle shaped parcel of land was narrowed five meters on each > side and the original plan to building a trade center was changed to > an activity center. The height of the building had been decided at > 79,30 meters and a car parking area was already present on the > location. Özgörkeyler’s request for a 10,500 square-meter area was > decreased to 9,372. Justice and Development Party, or AKP, members of > the council endorsed the plan for an activity center, yet they were > against the underground parking. > > Because the votes of the members of the council from the Republican > People's Party, or CHP, formed the majority, the underground parking > was accepted within the plan. > > Once they had a tangible project, the changes were discussed by the > Commission of the Law on the Protection of Cultural and Natural > Heritage and they shifted their decision mainly because of İzmir’s > oldest church stood next to the construction area. > > Saint Policarp Church is one of the seven churches mentioned in the > Bible and represents ancient İzmir’s role as one of the Seven > Churches of Revelation. Saint Polycarp was converted by John the > Apostle and became a second century bishop of Smyrna, the old name of > İzmir. He was martyred by the Romans at age 86 in 155 AD at > Kadifkale, which was atop the hill near modern-day İzmir. According > to tradition, when they tried to burn Polycarp at the stake, the > flames would not touch him. They finally stabbed him to death when he > was 85-years-old. > > The church burned down in the 1680s and was reconstructed again in > 1690, after which there was another fire in 1763 that damaged the > church badly. > > Source: DHA > ------------------------------------ > Let's Get Connected, > Rabia Rahimbayeva.