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.