City strives to create a friendly appearance
City strives to create a friendly appearance
By Ati Nurbaiti
JAKARTA (JP): For many people living in Jakarta is a matter of
survival. People are stressed. Dealing with officials and taking
care of business is often frustrating. On the surface, the city
seems only to care about building more skyscrapers and anything
else profitable.
But there are new, heartening efforts to improve things as
city planners and architects feel it is time the city became
friendlier. There are many projects underway and planned for this
year. Some examples follow.
The beautification of graveyards. Pretty landscapes have
replaced the walls.
Walls between buildings on main roads will follow suit as
skyscrapers and cemeteries shed their foreboding images.
Several sidewalks have been widened. The one on Jl. Kyai Tapa
now has a wide bus stop which contrasts with other stops where
passengers wait in long queues in the heat. Some sidewalks even
have benches now.
More pavements will be built as Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has
said he "will not tolerate" abuse of pavement space.
Jl. Prof. Satrio in Kuningan is to get wide pavements with
shelter for pedestrians. Sidewalk cafes and people walking
through posh buildings without suspicious security guards will be
a feature of at least one road.
The city is building a 17.2-hectare forest area in Srengseng,
West Jakarta, to compensate a little for lost vegetation and
animal habitat in other areas. Jakartans will find space here
for camping, picnics, feeding birds, fishing, boating and
jogging.
The rehabilitation of historical sites continues.
These efforts should boost residents' sense of belonging. Most
Jakartans are migrants and these efforts should encourage them to
care more for their city.
A recent study on the capital's middle class, those with a
monthly income of at least Rp 750,000, showed making the city
cleaner and more beautiful was low on their list of priorities.
The municipality's efforts in accommodating low income
residents, a forever source of critics, should also be noted.
The municipality still insists moving slum dwellers to cheap
apartments is the best way to eliminate slums while ensuring the
residents stay near where they work, although residents have
repeatedly said they cannot afford the apartments. Many have sold
their units and moved to new slums or to the city's outskirts.
Officials are optimistic resistance to apartment living is
temporary.
The housing agency, headed by Ongky Sukasah, is working with
academics and novelist La Rose, to meet and talk with apartment
dwellers about change.
An economic project to help women get extra income is underway
"so families can feel secure they can pay the installments,"
Ongky said.
In several subdistricts, the municipality has sponsored the
establishment of small shops.
This is to provide cheap goods compared to supermarkets.