Planet Senen Youth Center will be relocated: Mayor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta administration is planning
\nto relocate the Planet Senen Youth Center in Senen to Kemayoran
\nand construct a shopping center in its place, mayor Andi Subur
\nAbdullah said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The area is good for business since it is located between the
\nSenen railway station and the Senen bus terminal.<\/p>\n
\"However, the social environment here is no longer suitable
\nfor youth development,\" he told The Jakarta Post over the phone.<\/p>\n
\"Our proposal has been approved by the City Council,\" the
\nretired Army colonel said.<\/p>\n
Senen is one of busiest shopping areas in the city. Besides,
\nit has also become a first stop for migrants before they settle
\ndown in the capital as many of them who come to Jakarta by train,
\ndisembark at the Senen railway station.<\/p>\n
The area is also crime-ridden. Burglaries, robberies and
\nholdups are common occurrences.<\/p>\n
Sophian Azpina, head of the youth center, said the area was no
\nlonger favorable as a place for youths to congregate.<\/p>\n
\"The crime rate here is getting higher. Therefore, the
\nobjective of the center to educate youths through positive
\nactivities is no longer achievable here,\" Sophian told Post at
\nhis office on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Along with the Bulungan Youth Center in Blok M, South Jakarta,
\nthe 18,000-square-meter Planet Senen Youth Center used to be a
\npopular hangout for youths in the city.<\/p>\n
Activities held at the center, which was opened in 1974,
\ninclude sport, theater and art, and also social and political
\ndiscussions.<\/p>\n
Sophian conceded that the center appeared dirty and
\ndisorganized.<\/p>\n
\"Many street vendors, vagrants and the homeless stay in the
\nbuilding compound. Some of the floors of the building have fallen
\ninto ruin from neglect,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The center's poor condition had been criticized by former
\nmayor Abdul Kahfi.<\/p>\n
\"The premises have been abused. Street vendors operate here
\nwithout permits, while many vagrants live there. The building has
\nlikely not been properly maintained,\" Kahfi, who is now deputy
\ngovernor for government affairs, once said.<\/p>\n
Sophian, however, said his office had no authority to evict
\nthe street vendors from the building compound.<\/p>\n
\"It's either the responsibility of the police or the city
\npublic order authority. Besides, if we force them out of this
\nstrategic place for business, they might resist,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Planet Senen Youth Center's Youth Union said they didn't
\nobject to the relocation, although they admitted the present
\nlocation was very strategic.<\/p>\n
\"We agree with the planned relocation but the new place must
\nprovide better facilities to its users,\" he said, without going
\ninto details.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, mayor Andi said the administration was now seeking
\ninvestors to construct a shopping center in its place.<\/p>\n
\"Once we get one (investor), the construction can begin in
\nJanuary,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the administration preferred the project to be carried
\nout through the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) system.<\/p>\n
\"Through the system, the investor will be allowed to operate
\nthe building until a certain period of time before the it is
\nreturned to the administration,\" he said. (asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/planet-senen-youth-center-will-be-relocated-mayor-1447893297",
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