Turkey plans to redevelop Gezi Park

Turkish authorities announced Wednesday that they plan to redevelop Istanbul’s controversial Gezi Park by razing it and rebuilding an Ottoman-era army barracks in its place.

This same plan named "The Urban Reconstruction of Taksim Square and the Taksim Barracks" had sparked deadly nationwide anti-government protests last year.

The total budget for the project is around $5.4 million, private Dogan news agency said.

The municipality said in a statement that "the project will be canceled if the court rules against the redevelopment."

"But even if the court rules in favor of the redevelopment, there will be a referendum in any case."