Restoration of the historical Ottoman Bath in İzmit awaits permits

Ulaş Yıldız, a young businessman who leased the 16th-century historical Ottoman Bath located on Fethiye Street in İzmit to turn it into a museum, cultural center, library, and café, has been unable to start work for about a year because permits have not been issued on the grounds that a metro line will pass beneath the structure.

The historical Ottoman Bath on Fethiye Street, put out to tender by the General Directorate of Foundations last year, was leased to young businessman Ulaş Yıldız for 27 years after no other bidders emerged. Yıldız aimed to preserve the texture of the historical structure while bringing a museum, culture and art center, library, and café to the city.

However, the implementation of the project hit a roadblock when it was determined that the planned metro route stretching from Körfez to Kartepe would pass underneath the structure. While restoration work could not be initiated due to the failure to obtain the necessary approvals and permits from the relevant institutions for about a year, it was reported that Ulaş Yıldız continues to pay rent regularly every month.