What impressed me most and was greatly appreciated is that though Pinar is in Kenya, she's a fantastic troubleshooter. She was fast and efficient tackling a couple of problems that came up. Her friend Zeki who welcomed me is also very kind and accommodating.
The description of the room is accurate. It's functionable and pretty spacious for a "long short stay". I'd agree with other visitors that an A/C unit is necessary to cope with summer heat. Also I could do with some more crockery and cutlery in the kitchen. I'd also recommend a shower cabin to prevent the water flooding the whole bathroom. It needed moping right after every shower. The laundry room in the building is fully equipped, but the last few days of my stay there was no power in it. It'd be good if there's a weekly check in the building.
The area is exactly like Pinar describes it. Yes, it's run-down, noisy, a bit dirty but it has an authentic flair of its own. The people seem a bit scary at the beginning, but once you approach them, they open up and treat you with utmost friendliness. It'd be good to speak some Turkish, as this helps a lot in your daily interactions.
Taxim and bus stops / subway stations are a 10-minute "climb" and it takes courage to walk up the hill. But then, all amenities and the beauty of Istanbul are wide open to you.
I'd definitely stay again in this room, and, yes, in Tarlabasi too!