Second chance urged for home businesses
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta
In an effort to regularize the status of private homes that have been converted into commercial premises, South Jakarta Mayor Dadang Kafrawi has proposed to Governor Sutiyoso that the land use functions of 27 residential areas in the municipality be converted to business and commercial functions.
"Businesspeople are seeking the conversion of Kebayoran Baru from a residential area into a business and commercial area. We have submitted a proposal in this regard to the governor," Dadang said after a meeting with Governor Sutiyoso and businesspeople running commercial enterprises from their homes in the upmarket Pondok Indah residential area in South Jakarta.
Among the 27 areas are Jl. Dharmawangsa, Jl. Wijaya, Jl. Panglima Polim and Jl. Wolter Monginsidi.
"The proposal is being discussed by a team comprising officials from the Jakarta Planning Agency and the Jakarta Construction Supervision and Regulation Agency (PPB)," Dadang said.
Sutiyoso declined to comment. "I have yet to read the proposal."
He reiterated his policy that the use of homes for business and commercial purposes needed to be regularized.
"We will not allow residences to be turned into business premises, especially when they have not obtained operating permits," he said.
Given that many of the converted homes have actually obtained operating permits from different city agencies, Sutiyoso said the administration would investigate on a case-by-case basis following complaints lodged by the public.
The administration has prioritized the regularization of Kebayoran Baru and Pondok Indah in South Jakarta, and Menteng in Central Jakarta, as many people have complained that the converted residences cause traffic congestion and noise in these neighborhoods.
Data from the Jakarta Public Order Agency shows that more than 500 homes have been converted into business and commercial premises in the three areas.
City spokesman Muhayat said the administration might allow private medical practices and playgroups to continue in existence as they were relatively less disruptive.
"However, we will ban doctors from converting their homes into health clinics as these would cause greater nuisances compared to private practices," he said.
Pondok Indah Entrepreneurs Association chairwoman Annisa Mirza admitted after the meeting that many of her members had violated the law by converting their homes into business premises.
"In fact, we would really like to have our businesses in designated locations. However, we cannot simply uproot our business operations immediately. We will move to the designated locations step by step," she said, adding that many employees would be affected should the businesses be forced to shut down precipitously.
The administration plans to take action against businesses being run from private residences in other parts of the city after completing the task in the three pilot areas.