More investors sought for TIM renovation

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is seeking the help of private companies to accelerate the renovation of the Central Jakarta's Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) art center.

Azhari Baedlawi, head of the city's agency for art development, said recently the renovation would be based on build operation and transfer cooperation.

Azhari was referring to a sprawling 5.5-hectare complex in the center of the capital, now housing several theater halls, a movie theater, an art academy and exhibition halls, some of which badly need renovation.

The city administration plans to build a 12-story office building, a three-star, eight-story hotel with 1,000 rooms, a new modern theater, an exhibition hall and a new Jakarta art institute campus.

The new Rp 90 billion modern theater, with a seat capacity of 1,500, is scheduled to be completed in 1998. The total cost for the 10-year-long renovation is estimated to be Rp 200 billion.

Head of the renovation project Agung Widodo said there has been three building contractors which have shown interest in taking part in renovating the 29-year-old center on Jl. Cikini Raya.

He declined to reveal the names of the three companies, saying, "Many things have to fixed by the three companies before signing a contract."

According to Widodo, the companies prefer to start building the hotel first.

"But we will persuade them to also join us in constructing the three-story modern theater," he said.

The renovation of the art center began in June 1996 with PT Pembangunan Perumahan, a state-owned building contractor firm. The old, open-air theater was pulled down in June 1996 and the construction of a new basement of the modern theater is under way.

The designs of the buildings as well as the electrical network are being done by the Atelier 6 Group. (03)