Legal businesses allowed to continue in Kemang

Legal businesses allowed to continue in Kemang

JAKARTA (JP): Business owners in Kemang who possess legal
business permits will be allowed to continue their activities,
Governor Sutiyoso said over the weekend.

The decision was made following the municipality's plan to
develop Kemang into a model urban village in South Jakarta as
proposed in a six-month study on the area, the governor said. The
study was conducted by a special team from Bandung's Institute of
Technology (ITB).

"Based on the evaluation by a special independent team to
reassess buildings in the Kemang area, it is concluded that
Kemang has unique environmental features to protect. The area
still has the ability to be 'green'. There are still kampongs
within the subdistrict.

"So I believe Kemang could become a visual 'village', which is
green and unique and also emerges as a modern area which can
accommodate its residents' needs," Sutiyoso said.

He said all business operators who have legal permits for
their businesses may therefore continue to operate.

"But, for those who have none and have violated the
regulation, their businesses have to be permanently closed down
as soon as possible," he said.

According to Sutiyoso, the decision will soon be issued in a
gubernatorial decree.

He, however, gave no specific date.

The governor did not disclose whether the proposed decree
would lead to the revocation of the 1985/2005 city planning,
which designates Kemang as a residential area.

Businesses in Kemang have made headlines over the past two
years because of land use violations, with many homes in the area
being converted into commercial premises over the last 15 years.

At least 248 commercial outlets, ranging from bars, cafes and
restaurants to art shops, are scattered along the narrow streets
of Kemang Raya, Bangka Raya and Prapanca.

Businesses, which according to existing regulations should
occupy to only 15 percent of the area, account for more than 90
percent of Kemang's buildings.

Not surprisingly, the area's transformation has created new
problems including traffic congestion, which is worsened by a
lack of parking spaces and the demolition of sidewalks.

A gubernatorial decree was issued on March 18 last year,
stating that all building permits in the area were to be checked
in a bid to restore Kemang to its original purpose.

After confusion over whether Kemang businesses would be
allowed to continue operating, Governor Sutiyoso announced last
November the closure of 180 businesses which lacked proper
permits.

Of the 180 businesses, only 54 have been closed so far.

Within the new concept proposed by the ITB team led by
Muhammad Danisworo, who is also chairman of the city's
architectural team, Sutiyoso hoped that the problems in Kemang
could be solved.

The concept written in a statement dated Jan. 22 are divided
into three phases: short term, middle term and long term.

In the short term (from Jan. 22 to July), the city
administration will, among other things:

* Not issue any new business permits.

* Evaluate all businesses in Kemang and determine their status
based on the existing regulation.

* Rearrange the permits in coordination with related city
agencies.

* Set comprehensive Urban Design Guidelines to develop the area
based on an urban village concept.

The middle term, which would take a year after the first phase
is completed, would concentrate on developing public facilities
in Kemang.

The last phase is to sort out all the problems of Kemang's
rearrangement plan. The last phase is expected to be completed by
2002.

When asked to comment on the concept, city councilor Saud
Rachman from Commission D for development affairs praised the
municipality's decision but reminded the city to be shrewd in
applying its policies.

"What is important now is for the municipality to be
consistent in applying its decision. The new arrangement
hopefully will bring a better environment to Kemang.

"It would be useless if eventually, because of lax
supervision, there are business permits issued just because there
is collusion between some officials and businesspeople," Saud
said. (edt/ind)