Kemang may be developed into commercial site

JAKARTA (JP): Businesspeople in Kemang, South Jakarta, have no need to worry -- at least for the meantime -- about being evicted from their commercial sites.

After seven months of nail-biting, Governor Sutiyoso has offered them some hope with his plan to change Kemang's status from residential to commercial.

"As long as the situation in Kemang is conducive to redefining the area as a commercial site and there are no objections from the public, yes, Kemang's status may change," he said after visiting the South Jakarta mayoralty Tuesday.

Sutiyoso's remarks may surprise some parties, including his predecessor Surjadi Soedirdja, who finished his term as governor one month ago.

It was Surjadi who issued an instruction, dated March 18, that all building permits in the area -- which is dominated by cafes, restaurants, furniture shops, beauty parlors, clinics and duty- free shops -- be assessed.

A city regulation permits only 15 percent of buildings in Kemang to have a nonresidential function.

The city's crackdown revealed that 90 percent of buildings had been converted into commercial sites. Many of the owners ran businesses with a housing permit instead of a commercial permit.

Since then, 18 establishments, including cafes, restaurants and furniture shops, have been closed down.

Sutiyoso has asked South Jakarta Mayor Pardjoko to undertake a full evaluation of the Kemang site before he makes a final decision.

"The most important thing is that the decision should be made in the best interest of all of the people," Sutiyoso, who has pledged to outdo Surjadi, dubbed Mr. Clean by the media, said.

On Monday, mayor Pardjoko held a meeting with 115 businesspeople from Kemang.

They reportedly urged the mayor to propose that the new governor bring the area into line with its current status.

Reports said Pardjoko rejected the request because it went against the designated use of Kemang as outlined by the municipality and Surjadi. The former governor wanted the area returned to its original status, that of a housing complex.

But Pardjoko told the businesspeople that he would pass on their views to Sutiyoso for further consideration.

An official, who asked for anonymity, said yesterday that Kemang had already been converted into a commercial site and it was difficult to turn in back into a residential area.

"There are too many different interests right now. The municipality must come up with the best solution for Kemang.

"In the meantime, businesses here which do not have the appropriate permits must stop operating and wait for further developments," he added. (07)