Pejompongan vendors iffy on relocation plan

Pejompongan vendors iffy on relocation plan

JAKARTA (JP): Vendors along Jl. Pejompongan in Central Jakarta
question the authorities' plan to relocate them into an
apartment, saying that it could hurt their businesses.

PT Sarana Jaya, a city-owned developer, announced on Friday
that it would build a low-cost apartment for vendors and small-
scale entrepreneurs and their families. Under the "three-in-one"
concept, the groundfloor and basement of the apartment would be
used as shops and workshops for their inhabitants.

Some traders, while welcoming the gesture, said they doubted
if their shops would be spacious enough, or if they could afford
to pay the rent.

"I'm prepared to move to the apartment with the new concept as
long as I could have space large enough for my business," Bilal,
a 54 years old wood-carver, said in his workshop.

Bilal also wondered whether he would be able to earn the same
amount of money as he does now.

The business currently brings in between Rp 100,000 and Rp
200,000 in income a day, said the father of four. His wife and
children live in Purwakarta, Central Java.

Herman, who owns a scrap iron business, said he too would need
a large space for his tools and machine if he was to move to a
new apartment. "Could the developer provide this?" he asked.

Herman, a native 47-year old Jakartan, feared that the new
location would not be as strategic as his current shop. "I fear
customers will have difficulties finding our new spot," he said.

Herman, who has run his business on Jl. Pejompongan since
1983, estimated about 210 kiosks running various business in the
area. They include shops selling food, garments and wood and iron
scraps.

Sarana Jaya said the "three-in-one" apartment project will
have 17 stories and built on a 31,000 square meter land on Jl.
Pejompongan.

It will be modeled on the Rawabilal apartment in Tebet, South
Jakarta, which has been renovated and officially reopened in July
17. The apartment is now occupied mostly by flower traders.

The developer plans similar projects in Pondok Kelapa in East
Jakarta, Cengkareng in West Jakarta and Penjaringan in North
Jakarta.

Of greater concern to traders on Jl. Pejompongan however is
rumors that they would be evicted from their current location.

"I heard rumors that the city will start evicting people after
the May election. So far, we have not heard of any formal
notification," Bilal said.

He said he was resigned to his fate, knowing that he occupies
a state land. "I've lived here for more than 10 years and all
I've got is a hak guna bangunan (lease to use building)," he
added.

Herman said any plan to evict traders should first be
discussed with residents. "We appeal to the administration to
suspend any plan to evict us and to give us chance to discuss
this," he added.

Bilal said information about the city's plan is hard to come
by and the chief of the Pejompongan subdistrict was no help.

"We've been tossed around. We don't know where else to go,"
Bilal said, adding: "But we hope the city administration will
provide us the apartments as promised." (07)