Short term greed and opportunism create unfortunate outcomes for all but a select few. Sharp practices undermine trust and credibility. Mindless construction defaces the environment. Corruption and subverted planning directives create economic development waste. There is a word for such actions - "irresponsible".
Wherever you look in Bodrum you see examples of how some simple opportunistic little development for $10-20 million has defaced the environment and devalued the much larger adjacent development potential of literally $200-400 million. Yalikavak is a prime example of this- poor planning and implementation has resulted in a total development capital valuation perhaps only 25%, ie 1/4, of the potential achievable with better land use and urban management. This is a great loss to all stakeholders concerned- the foreign residents, local business, the local population, the local government, and central government revenue finances. As usual these losses stem from short term opportunisim- perpetrated by small businessmen usually in cahoots with government officials- local or central.
A few short years ago several local councillors were run up the yardarms for their role in such scams. At the time central government in Ankara appeared to be something of a saving grace, to prosecute these lot. Now however, much of the central planning in Bodrum appears (???) to be moving into the hands of Ankara central government. This is unfortunate considering certain revelations about central government vested interests on the sales of forestry land reserves around Bodrum, about certain relatives of government ministers that have land plots in Bodrum that they paid too much for and couldnt develop profitably, and now the extension of building height restrictions which would make building on those plots profitable.
The present governing party came into power on an anti-corruption and anti-sleaze platform, laudibly executed. Some years later, and Bodrum residents are as wary as ever of outsiders who would usurp the stewardship of their here-to-fore pristine environment of tranquil fishing inlets and lime tree hillsides, and their safe harbour refuge for alternative intelligentsia.
Any foreign residents that object to irresponsible development are welcome to express their views, and join other elements of Bodrum society who mourn the destruction of all those delicate cultutral and environmental attribiutes that make Bodrum valuable. Irresponsible development threatens the very destructiuon of that which it seeks to profit from.
This is not rocket science- no one needs a Phd in land management to appreciate these facts- re-reading the lessons of Spain over the preceding 30 years repeatedly isnt the solution. We're back to basics here - basic education - grounded in fundamental values and ethics.
Make your voices heard - these are the details of the meeting- you can PM me with your email and I will forward the details and a letter:
INVESTATE
Turkish Coast real Estate Investment Meeting
Princess Otel, Turkbuku
24-25 May
www.investate.com.tr
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