Blok M in South Jakarta to get major makeover
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta administration plans to rearrange the already-crowded and chaotic area of Blok M, South Jakarta, to make it a commercial center.
The plan is aimed at curbing the fast-growing businesses, which have encroached on the residential areas of South Jakarta.
"Blok M area will become a more comfortable commercial center with more space available to accommodate businesses," assistant to the city secretary for development affairs IGKG Suena said on Monday.
"As a consequence, we will also clear the area of street vendors."
Blok M currently has a bus terminal, traditional market and four shopping malls and the surrounding streets are packed with sidewalk vendors.
Although there is no blueprint as yet, Suena assured the public that the new Blok M would attract businesspeople thanks to the supporting facilities and access, including the busway that connects it to Kota business center in West Jakarta.
"Hopefully, the development of Blok M will help reduce the conversion of homes into commercial and business premises in South Jakarta," he said.
At least 300 homes in the upmarket Kebayoran Baru residential area and dozens of residences in Pondok Indah have been converted for business use.
The conversion has led to many problems since the conversion of homes into commercial premises has not been done in tandem with the development of supporting infrastructure such as roads and parking space.
Residents in those areas, have repeatedly complained of worsening traffic jams amid the absence of parking areas and noise caused by business activities.
South Jakarta Mayor Dadang Kafrawi acknowledged his office's failure to develop the existing commercial centers had forced people to use their homes for business.
"This (the conversions) is partly due to our sluggishness in developing infrastructure, including the markets in Cipete, Mayestik and Blok A to absorb the businesspeople's need for business space."
He revealed that a gubernatorial decree will be issued to re- regulate South Jakarta of which part will be designed for business premises.
"Based on the decree, the administration will take action against those who convert property or land in residential areas for commercial purposes," Dadang said.
City Spatial Agency head Nurfakih Wirawan said that his office and the South Jakarta municipal administration had proposed to Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo to allow the existing businesses in residential areas to continue operations for two more years.
At least 27 locations in the area have been proposed earlier by businesspeople for zoning for business use, including Jl. Dharmawangsa, Jl. Wijaya, Jl. Panglima Polim and Jl. Wolter Monginsidi.