Antalya Metropolitan Municipality is preparing a new project to build a yacht marina by the coast in the city’s Kaleiçi district as part of a larger plan to help revive the area, according to authorities.

The project’s fundamental target is to restore the marina’s former dynamism without sacrificing its natural and historical values and to do so with an eye to building a sustainable model, according to authorities.

Preliminary work on the project, which was prepared by the Antalya Municipality Protection Application and Supervision Bureau, or KUDEB, under the management of Associate Professor Emre Mardan and city planner Can Kubin, has recently been completed, resulting in the Kaleiçi Marina Urban Design and Application Project. The project is intended to increase the popularity of the region.

Good for local economy

Noting that he is happy with the developments in the Kaleiçi district, 67-year-old fisherman Hasan Ali Bağcı said the best aspect of the project was that it included restoration works for the historical Fishermen’s Marketplace.

“We should protect our values, and the historical Fishermen’s Marketplace is among the values that Antalya possesses,” said Bağcı, adding that he expected the project to revive the local economy if applied successfully.

Agreeing with Bağcı, 54-year-old local Ayşe Laleli said Antalya, which attracts roughly 10 million tourists a year, should have more “points of attraction” at different locations.

“Kaleiçi can provide good opportunities for that, with all its beauty overlooking the Mediterranean, historical ramparts and high-class facilities and restaurants,” she said.

As part of the project, walking paths will be constructed on the Uzun Çarşı, Kırk Merdiven and Mermerli sides while one-way traffic will be restricted to the western side.

A striking feature of the project is a panoramic elevator, scheduled to be constructed between the marina and Tophane, a tourism hotspot.

In addition, modern recreational areas, viewing terraces, children’s playgrounds, model landscaping, informative signs and a lighting system have also been included in the project. The lighting system will illuminate the old city walls and sea surface with special designs as dusk falls.

The project will also include new regulations for the use of the sea. Accordingly, excursion boats, non-commercial yachts and fishing boats will be physically separated from other commercial vessels.

Lost popularity

Many feel the planned redevelopment is long overdue as the region has recently faced management problems, lagging behind changing tourism trends. Newly emerging attraction centers also caused the region to lose its former popularity.

Esin Şenyürek, a 41-year-old shopkeeper in Kaleiçi, said unfinished and poorly planned infrastructure and the lack of an urban development plan have caused the Kaleiçi district to lose its past popularity.

“We, local artisans, have to put up with the negative outcomes of years of bad management of the Kaleiçi region,” said Şenyürek, adding that the coming project would both save the micro-economy there and resurrect the district’s former popularity.

The first project for the Kaleiçi marina was prepared in the 1980s with the leadership of the Tourism Bank. The project was given a “Golden Apple” design award in 1983.

Kaleiçi marina has undertaken an important role in the city’s vibrant structure since turning into an important attraction center in the second half of the 1990s.

SOURCE: www.hurriyetdailynews.com