The Role of Local Retailers’ Association in the Sustainable Development of a Historical Commercial District

In this study it is aimed to discuss the participation models of local retailers’ association to local development plans of Bursa Historical Bazaar and Han District for the last fifty years. The district is placed in the city of Bursa which is the fourth biggest city of Turkey in regarding to population. The explanation of the participation models of local retailers’ association is constructed on Sherry Arnstein's description about citizen involvement in planning processes titled as “a ladder of participation”. In the content of the paper, how Bursa Historical Bazaar and Han District Retailers’ Association established by local retailers can provide collective and civic intelligence for the sustainable future of the district and how the association climb the ladder of participation will be discussed.