One only needs to take a glance at the history of Balat in order to understand the gentrification process Balat has been experiencing recently. The district became an area in which minorities, especially Jewish people, lived in the first years of the Republic of Turkey. The non-Muslim minorities abandoned the district in the wake of the events of September 6-7, 1955, and Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Due to its closeness to working areas downtown, the area was one of the first stops of those who migrated from rural areas to the big city until 10 years ago. It has become one of the favorite areas of young entrepreneurs and artists who seek new addresses for themselves…
Ji bo hewldana ‘ronakkirina’ li Balatê baş were fêmikirin, divê dîroka navçeyê bi kurtasî were zanîn. Beriya Osmaniyan, heta piştî avakirina komara Tirkiyeyê li bajarokê gelek kêmnetew, bi taybetî jî welatiyên Cihû dijiyan. Piştî bûyerên 6-7ê Îlonê û Hereketa Qibrîsê kêmnetewên wir ref bi ren ji bajarokê derketin. Bajarok ji ber ku nêzikê derverên kar e, beriya 10 salan jî, kesên ji bajarên xwe koçê bajarê mezin dikirin, dihatin vir. Di salên dawî de hunermendên li pey mekanên nû ne û ciwanên di warê xebatê de pêngava yekem pêk tînin, li wir bi cih dibin..