Sutiyoso ill-informed about proposed house conversion
Sutiyoso ill-informed about proposed house conversion
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso has promised his administration would carry out
an in-depth analysis on the proposal to convert parts of the
upscale Kebayoran Baru residential area into business districts.
"I have yet to receive the proposal but we need to carry out
an analysis to make sure any changes made to accommodate dynamic
development in the capital would not sacrifice open and green
spaces," he said on Friday at City Hall.
The city administration has planned to expand open and green
spaces in the capital to 13.9 percent of its total 63,744
hectares by 2010, from the current 9 percent.
Sutiyoso was responding to City Secretary for Development
Affairs IGKG Suena who said earlier that the administration was
looking into the possibility of converting some parts of
Kebayoran Baru into a commercial area.
Citing a preliminary survey over the area conducted by the
Jakarta Planning Agency, Suena said the agency had come up with a
recommendation to maintain some parts of the suburb as
residential areas and convert others for business use.
A proposal to convert Kebayoran Baru into a commercial area
came from South Jakarta Mayor Dadang Kafrawi who said
businesspeople in the area had asked him to consider designating
27 sections in the area as business premises.
The proposed locations include Jl. Dharmawangsa, Jl. Wijaya,
Jl. Panglima Polim and Jl. Wolter Monginsidi.
A recent survey by the Jakarta Public Order Agency shows there
are more than 300 homes being converted into business premises in
Kebayoran Baru.
Houses converted into business premises must have their status
changed by the city's Construction Supervision and Regulation
Agency (PPB). The owners must also refurbish the building to
accommodate safety requirements for commercial spaces.
The administration also aims to prioritize the regularization
of converted homes in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, and in
Menteng, Central Jakarta, as residents there have complained of
nuisance caused by business activities, including increased
traffic congestion and noise.