As Istanbul's new attraction center, combining the old and the modern, the Tarlabaşı 360 project's first phase will be finished in early 2017.Turkey's first urban renewal project, Tarlabaşı 360 is finally nearing completion. Çalık Real Estate Executive Board member Feyzullah Yetgin said results will be made early in 2017. We talked to Yetgin about the details of the project.Tarlabaşı 360 is Turkey's first urban renewal project. What is happening in Tarlabaşı? Can you give us up-to-date information regarding the project?Frankly, the things that should happen are currently happening in Tarlabaşı. Tarlabaşı 360's construction area is in a very special region that has hosted different cultures throughout its history and is still carrying the traces of those cultures. It is the meeting spot of the ladies and gentlemen of past times and the heart of an elite and select life featuring many cultural and artistic activities. However, along with Tarlabaşı's gradual turning into a wasteland, action was taken and the urban renewal process kicked off. At this point, as Çalık Holding's subsidiary Gap Construction and Çalık Real Estate, we revived Turkey's biggest and most important urban renewal project in collaboration with Beyoğlu Municipality. Tarlabaşı 360 gains importance as Turkey's biggest and most important urban renewal project conducted by Gap Construction and Çalık Real Estate in collaboration with Beyoğlu Municipality.Constructed with great effort, the project is coming to life in the heart of Istanbul and is being handled with extreme delicacy. We are not just building conventional offices and residences in Tarlabaşı, we are also trying to bring a nearly extinct history back to life and bring back an alive but forgotten treasure in Istanbul in the most modern and preserved way possible.The biggest feature of Tarlabaşı 360 is the renovation of all the structures by preserving historical texture and cultural values. While historical buildings within the project are renovated, other structures are being handled according to their original design with a modern architectural interpretation.We are at the center of the cityWhat is the most distinguished feature of the project?We see that other contemporary projects all try to shine on the basis of their location with the promise of being at the center of the city. This promise finds true fulfillment in Tarlabaşı 360. The project offers a unique location for both investment and residence with its location only 180 meters away from Istanbul's biggest attraction center, İstiklal Avenue.Stores within the project at 160

Tarlabaşı 360's avenues and streets will be home to several art galleries, stores, cafes and restaurants, and this place will gain its former elite life once again. The work that aims to realize the concept of the retail areas in the avenues and streets continues at top speed. When the project is completed, the avenues and streets of Tarlabaşı 360 will compete with Nişantaşı and İstiklal Avenue.

If we make a small calculation considering the current numbers, while İstiklal Avenue and Nişantaşı are 1.42 kilometers and 2.06 kilometer, respectively, Tarlabaşı 360's avenues and streets will be 1.4 kilometers long. While İstiklal Avenue has nearly 300 stores and Nişantaşı has nearly 400, Tarlabaşı 360 will have 160 stores.16,000 square meters of commercial spaceResidences in the project range from 48 square meters to 354 square meters, and offer studios, 1+1, 1+1 lofts, 2+1, 2+1 duplexes, 4+1 duplexes and penthouses. The accommodation to be prepared for sale comes from the sections of the project closest to Taksim Square and will be the most attractive blocks with their decorated facades. The tenant combination and special management will make Tarlabaşı 360 the region's most important attraction center along with a 16,000 square meters of rental commercial areas and a parking garage for 1,050 vehicles in an area over 60,000 square meters. The project will be revived with commercial, social and cultural areas for exclusive use.Feyzullah Yetgin​$6,500 per square meter

When will the first be finished?

The project includes 971 units together with offices, residences, houses and stores located on a 25,000 square meters area over nine city blocks. The first offices will be finished in early 2017.

The sale price for the offices per square meter is $7,500, which provides more profit to its investors than gold or foreign currency. The average price for the residences per square meter is $6500. The office spaces constitute 10 percent of the project with investment values ranging from 63 square meters to 630 square meters. Tarlabaşı Avenue, on the other hand, features a street fully closed to vehicle traffic.Tarlabaşı documentary is readyWhen will the new residence blocks be put up for sale?

We entered a brand new period in September and began working for the launch of new residence blocks. Since we started our journey to give Tarlabaşı the value it deserves, we did not want to wait until the project was completed. By coming together with experts, we brought a documentary project to life. Our documentary focuses on Tarlabaşı and its history and has the characteristics of an exciting academic lecture. Our Tarlabaşı documentary will be released in 2016.