Jl. Thamrin building owners narrow-minded: Governor

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja branded owners of high-rise buildings who had asked the municipality to review its Thamrin Walk project as "narrow-minded" citizens yesterday.

"The building owners are too narrow-minded. While sitting up there comfortably, they think: this is my building and it's up to me...," said the governor in a speech at a seminar on promoting the city as an international tourism destination.

According to Surjadi, the unwillingness of some owners to accept the current concept has become the main barrier to the municipality proceeding with the plan to tear down fences between high-rise buildings and widen sidewalks on Jl. M.H. Thamrin.

"How can we face globalization with this kind of attitude?" he asked the seminar participants, most of whom were major property owners in the city.

Unlike here, buildings in many cities overseas are connected via pathways, or corridors, both on the ground level and underground, he said.

The plan to beautify Jl. Thamrin, one of the city's main streets, is to ease people traveling from one building to another and to create a friendlier atmosphere for pedestrians in the area.

He guaranteed that the plan would benefit property owners in the area.

"By having direct access to other buildings, tenants of the other buildings and pedestrians won't be so reluctant to go to other buildings," Surjadi said.

Unfortunately, he said, owners of high-rise buildings preferred to isolate their buildings with fences and walls.

"In fact, if they're willing to participate in our plan, their buildings will look more attractive," Surjadi said.

Owners of at least eight of the 20 high-rise buildings along Jl. M.H. Thamrin sent a request to the administration earlier this month to review the plan.

They asked for certain adjustments to the plan based on the situation at each building.

Deputy Governor of Economic and Development Affairs Tb.M. Rais said Tuesday that the administration was determined to start the project next month, despite the owners' demand.

Work would start, he said, at buildings whose owners have promised to participate in the project.

The beautification project, called the Thamrin Walk, is designed to eliminate the capitalistic atmosphere along the street and to create a friendlier ambience for pedestrians.

The city administration has budgeted to spend about Rp 13.2 billion (about US$4.98 million), while owners of the 20 "affected" buildings are being asked to contribute another Rp 8.5 billion to realize the plan. (ste)