Jl. Thamrin beautification plan open to adjustment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The plan to tear down fences and widen sidewalks
\nalong Jl. M.H. Thamrin to make the street "friendlier" is open to
\nadjustment based on the situation at each building, according to
\na city official.<\/p>\n
The head of City's Park Agency, Syamsir Alam, said yesterday
\nthat the municipality's design, presented to building owners in
\nJune, was not yet set in concrete.<\/p>\n
"Several adjustments to the plan are possible as long as it is
\nnot too far from the initial concept," said Syamsir, a Thamrin
\nproject executive, before the closing ceremony of a flora and
\nfauna exhibition at Lapangan Banteng square in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said that the municipality had thus far received eight
\nwritten requests from building owners who demanded to review the
\nplan.<\/p>\n
"The owners did not oppose the plan. Their requests are just
\ndue to misunderstandings.<\/p>\n
"Maybe the owners did not fully understand that the plan would
\nnot only benefit the public, but also their buildings."<\/p>\n
He said that Wisma Kosgoro and Sarinah were among those which
\nhad requested changes. "I don't remember the rest," Syamsir said.<\/p>\n
Sari Pan Pacific Hotel's communications director, Satria Wira,
\ntold The Jakarta Post late last week that building owners had
\nrequested the municipality review the plan, which would affect 20
\nhigh-rise buildings, excluding embassies, along the 1.65
\nkilometer long Jl. M.H. Thamrin, one of the city's main roads.<\/p>\n
He said that the owners were not against the municipality's
\nplan.<\/p>\n
"We just want adjustments to the plan based on the condition
\nof each building," Satria said.<\/p>\n
He said that among the owners who wanted to review were those
\nof the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, Bank Jaya, BPPT and Skyline
\nbuildings.<\/p>\n
Under the administration's plan, called the Thamrin Walk, the
\nfences between high-rise buildings and the sidewalks would be
\ntorn down to widen the sidewalks and create a friendlier
\natmosphere for pedestrians.<\/p>\n
The sidewalks are to be expanded to between seven and eight
\nmeters wide.<\/p>\n
Syamsir said that the municipality did not blame building
\nowners for their misunderstanding, which could be the result of
\nnot attending the municipality's presentation at the Sari Pan
\nPacific hotel in June.<\/p>\n
"Maybe the owners only sent one of their staff to the meeting,
\nand after the presentation, the employees did not give detailed
\ninformation to their superiors," Syamsir said.<\/p>\n
He urged building owners to send their correct representatives
\nto discuss the plan with city officials in several meetings to be
\nheld soon.<\/p>\n
"By attending the meetings, the owners will have detailed
\ninformation and also be able to propose ideas for necessary
\nadjustments," Syamsir said.<\/p>\n
For instance, he said, the plan to widen sidewalks by seven to
\neight meters would be applied based on the situation at each
\nbuildings.<\/p>\n
"There's a need to hold dialogs between the municipality and
\nbuilding owners to prevent misunderstanding and to provide owners
\nwith more information about the plan," Syamsir said.<\/p>\n
The dialogs, he said, would also help make the owners
\nunderstand that the plan was very important to make the city
\nfriendlier, especially for pedestrians.<\/p>\n
Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi said in July that the plan
\nhad received a positive response from the building owners.
\nHowever, he said it was unlikely that the plan, initially
\nscheduled to commence in October, would begin due to difficulties
\nin getting suitable fences.<\/p>\n
In the plan, the administration has budgeted to spend about Rp
\n13.2 billion (about US$4.98 million), while the 20 building
\nowners will contribute another Rp 8.5 billion. (ste)<\/p>",
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