Kordon and Pier of İzmir
The port and pier of İzmir did not have the capacity to meet the needs of growing trade until 1860's. This caused problems with docking as well as loss of custom incomes as it allowed smuggling on a large scale. Along with 1860's, railway lines started operating and so the trade from inner parts of Anatolia fastened and increased. This ended up with the need for a port that is suitable for docking of larger ships. In 1867 the port construction prerogative is given to a company founded by English tradesmen J. Charnaud, A. Baker and G. Guerracino. The company started construction in 1869 but the prerogative was transferred to a French company. The port was completed except for a 75 meters' long part in 1876 and put into service. As the advantages of the port about docking were obvious, the part of 75 meters' length was also completed and whole port was put into service in 1880. Following this, a tram line was constructed into the port, terrains gained from sea and marsh area were sold, and areas were formed to become rich and westernised districts of city habitat.
Passengers were carried during the day with the tram line built on First Kordon. At night train wagons transferred goods that arrived at Alsancak Train Station to İzmir Port through First Kordon.
After construction of Alsancak Railway Station, English started buying tracts, built boardings, depots, maintenance and repair facilities, many outbuildings and fire-fighters' organisation. They built St. Jean Church and English Hospital as well. In addition, thanks to the railway station, industrialisation, started in late 19th century, intensified in this area.
Especially the Darağacı District (Front street of Alsancak Stadium today) which is a passage from Alsancak to Bornova, became a settlement for Greek labourers and an industrial zone at the same time. Steam operated tread mills totally owned by foreigners, cigarettes and school paper factory, crosscut saw plants, Coal Gas Factory (1860), Ice Factories, Prina Factory, Cotton oil and Macaroni Factory were built in this area.
Furthermore English were leading in textile industry. Şark Sanayi (East Industry) and İzmir Pamuklu Mensucat (Izmir Cotton Textile) were two of the most famous ones. Additionally leather factories are among important establishments. Also we should mention the water factory named Eaux de Smyrna. In 1886 tobacco factory of Reji Company was established and wooden box production plants started settling in Punta. These boxes were used for exporting two important goods of the region: grapes and figs.
On the bulkhead line built by Port Company and on Kordon, foreigners established places to maintain their lifestyle habits. Many clubs and association buildings dedicated to higher-class people were located in this district.
The buildings of Club European, Tradesmen Association and Club, Hunting Club, Sporting Club and Concert America Theatre Hall were the outstanding ones. One of the most magnificent buildings was Kramer Palace Hotel and Club Hellenique upstairs the hotal. The population of the city was evolving. This population started buying estates in Kordon, and housing intensified in the area up north from Pasaport district. Architecture of two floor houses with bay windows, which was named Chios Type architecture, named after houses of tradesmen from Chios, became popular in the city.