Inconsistent permit policy criticized

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration's policy with respect to the building and restoration of houses in Menteng, Central Jakarta, is being questioned by longtime residents, as they consider the administration to be imposing double standards in issuing construction permits.

The establishment of small hotels, restaurants and buildings, as seen along Jl. K.H Wahid Hasyim, has clearly disregarded the garden city concept of the area, and developers are still able to obtain permits from the city administration for business purposes.

According to Gubernatorial Decree No.D.IV-6097/d/33/1975, Menteng is designated a conservation area due to its many historic buildings of unique architectural value.

Destroying and replacing houses that have particular historical or architectural quality is prohibited by the decree. However, as the decree does not state a penalty for violators, many old houses have been replaced by new ones that do not have the characteristics of traditional Menteng houses.

"The new residents are allowed to build fortress-like houses, with high walls and gates. According to the rules, there is a specified minimum separation between houses, and gates should not be higher than 1.5 meters," said Mrs. Kartakusuma, a Menteng resident for 40 years, at a seminar on restoration in Menteng held by the City Museum and Restoration Agency.

Apart from the unclear regulations, the resident cited concern over the high property tax in Menteng, saying that it had forced old residents who were unable to afford the land tax to sell their property to the nouveau rich, who were uninterested in conserving the old houses.

"They tear down old residences and build Mediterranean-style houses in the area, which are not suited to the original planning concept" said Fauzi Bowo, the City Secretary who is also a Menteng resident.

"The thoroughgoing coordination and attention of the city's development and urban planning agency is critical to the preservation of Menteng," he added.

According to historian Adolf Heuken, another possible option that could be implemented in the area would be to impose higher land taxes on those who violated the construction regulations, and to minimize the tax on houses built in accordance with them.

Urban architects also stressed the importance of stringent guidelines and the need for government agencies to be much more proactive in overseeing developments in the area.

"There isn't a single agency that is completely responsible: Agencies seem to shirk their responsibilities when it comes to this matter," said one urban architect, Djauhari Sumintardja.

But chief of the city restoration agency Idris defended agencies at the city administration, saying, "We can't blame the agencies themselves ... the problem is the impropriety of certain city officials."