The migration movement from rural areas to cities that began after the Industrial Revolution has deeply affected cities in socio- cultural, economic, and technical aspects. One of the most significant problems of rapidly growing and unplanned cities due to migration is the transformation of historical city cores into areas of decay within the city centers. The process, which began with the inability of the buildings in historical city cores to fulfill their daily func- tions, has led to their abandonment and neglect. Neglected buildings have often been converted into storage areas or sold/rented to low-income groups. As a result, historical city centers have transformed into areas where low-income groups or unemployed individuals reside, while those with higher income have moved towards the new residential areas of the city. In short, these processes, which have started with the de- mographic transformation of the population in historical city centers, have resulted in physical and spatial changes, revealing dilapidated his- torical city cores. The improvement efforts through structural and spatial interventions aim- ing to restore these dilapidated historical centers to important areas of the city bring about vari- ous social, economic, and demographic changes. One of the most significant outcomes of these changes is the concept of gentrification. This study aims to examine the conservation and im- provement efforts carried out in Sulu Sokak, the historical city and commercial center of the city of Tokat, located in Turkey, within the frame- work of gentrification. Many historical struc- tures within the study area reflect the history of the city. Sulu Sokak and its surroundings, lo- cated on the southern slopes of Tokat Castle, had turned into a decayed area by the 2000s. In or- der to achieve the aim of the study, the condi- tions of Sulu Sokak and the historical structures on it before and after the year 2000 were ana- lyzed. As a result of the analysis, it was observed that the conservation efforts carried out in Sulu Sokak since 2005 by public institutions and non- governmental organizations have led to im- provement and demographic changes in the area. However, it was understood that these ef- forts did not go beyond the individual restora- tion of historical structures and urban land- scape. With this study, the importance of ap- proaching conservation efforts in historical city cores within scientific and comprehensive con- servation approaches, and the significance of de- cision-makers, have been emphasized.