Kagithane is a primarily residential district of Istanbul, within a short drive of Istanbul’s primary business district in Levent. Real estate price rises have averaged doubled in USD since June 2020 according to Pera’s statistician Mert. Experts are in agreement that this impressive rise will continue for the next five years.
Kagithane is a large district, yet investment primarily rests around the Hasdal junction of the E6 highway, and the Cendere river – for very specific reasons. Growth is expected to continue, with private and public investment running into the billions of Lira over the last few years.
Easy access to the business district
Kagithane provides quick access to Sisli, Levent, Mecidiyekoy, and Maslak – Istanbul’s primary business district. A typical travel time of 15 to 20 minutes allows white collar workers easy access to this crucial part of Istanbul, where the majority of major global brands host regional headquarters.
Financial and banking authorities are all in these locations, and with Istanbul’s ever increasing traffic issue, easy access to the office is crucial in the mind of the typical white collar Turk. Kagithane serves this purpose, as a primarily modern residential district.
This easy access is assisted by two road tunnels – the Kagithane to Bomonti tunnel, and then the Bomonti to Besiktas Tunnels. This means one can access the city centre within 10 mins via these tunnels, even at rush hour.
Airport and city centre metro
The new M11 metro line is currently under construction and its first phase is made up of the city centre to Airport line. This first phase is at 99% completion rate and is expected to open in December 2022. It has a major interchange at Kagithane, where it links up with the existing M7 city centre metro line.
Running from Mahmutbey in the west, to Besiktas on the shores of the Bosphorus, the M7 metro line is a construction of epic size. Proximity to this metro line is of crucial importance to Turks when choosing their home – realistically, most people would prefer car free access to their home and workplace.
A further 500 million USD is expected to be invested by private-pubic partnership, in the pioneering three tier under sea tunnel. This tunnel will relieve heavy traffic on both Bosphorus bridges, avoiding city centre traffic, which is infamous at rush hour. The tunnel will also be host to a major railway project, planned to replace the overloaded metrobus system, which carries 3.5 million passengers per day – three times its design capacity.
Decent family region
Kagithane, like most of Istanbul, has pockets of old property stock, awaiting demolition. Hence new neighbourhoods with primarily modern secure residences, are preferred by families. Middle class Turkish families now see this as the ultimate milestone.
Big brands are joining the smaller developers
Kagithane was first developed by smaller family developers. The larger brand name developers of Istanbul have noticed this and joined in. Today, mega complexes surrounding the Hasdal junction or a metro station have cropped up. Pera Property hosts a range of residences in this investment zone around the Hasdal junction and in central Kagithane, by the two new metro stations.
Silicon Valley
Kagithane is also developing as a Istanbul’s answer to Silicon Valley. Former warehouses are being converted into largescale mixed use complexes. Big architectural firms like HOK have designed state of the art complexes, and universities. Ayazaga campus of Istanbul Technical University already has a substantial campus in the region. With the metro already linking the region to the main business district, this portion of Kagithane is exceptionally popular with all business sizes, as well as being a residential district.
Vadi Istanbul
Vadi Istanbul started off as a small residence in the Ayazagi forests, built on land left vacant by warehouses. Today, the name given to the complex has now colloquially been given to the region. The region has been fully converted into a modern day business, residence, and shopping zone in its own right. It has overtaken areas like Maslak and in fact, some people even refer to the region as Maslak. Its home to fantastic residences like Nurol Life, Vadi Istanbul of course, Skyland (2nd tallest building in Turkey), and many other fantastic residences. It’s also home to Turkey’s biggest club, Galatasaray.