City plans major facelift for Blok M and surroundings

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 01/10/2009 10:19 AM  

The city administration plans to revamp 25-hectare Blok M, South Jakarta, into a prospective economic territory by integrating shopping centers, office buildings, parks and the transportation terminal. 

"Blok M is a unique area with high economic potential because it has an intercity bus terminal serving routes from all over Greater Jakarta," said Tri Rahmat, from the South Jakarta City Planning Body, on Thursday. 

In accordance with the new design, Blok M will have an elevated travelator above the main streets surrounding the area and the future Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) tracks, connecting Blok M Plaza to the west, two parks to the north and south, and Pasaraya to the east of the new Blok M Square mall, which is in the heart of the area. 

The streets bordering the area will be revamped, including Jl. Trunojoyo to the north, Jl. Hasanudin and Jl. Iskandarsyah to the west, Jl. Melawai to the south and Jl. Panglima Polim to the east. 

Tri said the body planned to build skyscraper office buildings to maximize the economic potential of the area. 

He said the plan also included the creation of at least two new parks. 

Tri said the master plan was still being processed by the city spatial planning agency; South Jakarta administration was still assigning the necessary infrastructure to support the master plan. 

"We have cleared the corridors from illegal vendors and we're still trying to find a solution for a better parking management system," he said. 

"The current parking system charges Blok M Square mall visitors twice, when you enter the area and when you enter the mall. The new system will have a single parking management," he added. 

The South Jakarta Public Order Agency dismantled more than 800 kiosks occupying the corridors of Blok M area on Dec. 13, 2008 to ease traffic in the area and make way for shoppers to enter the mall where the vendors run their businesses now. 

Tri said the necessary infrastructure would be ready by March, with construction of the plan expected to start next year. 

Tri said the South Jakarta mayor would discuss the plan with all stakeholders and business owners in the area to accommodate their aspirations. 

Andra Matin, an urban architect, welcomed the city's plan to rejuvenate Blok M. 

"Placing street vendors in a single location would make for a neater and cleaner environment, but the location does not necessarily have to be in a mall," he said. 

Andra also agreed with the city's plan to construct skyscrapers so long as the area surrounding the buildings were turned into parks. 

"There are a lot of two story stores and offices in the area. Putting them all in a single vertical location would create room for parks and water catchment areas," he said. 

He said the new design of Blok M should reduce the use of air conditioners and electricity, and see more parks and sidewalks. 

Andra said he agreed to the building of bridges, but disagreed with the plan to install travelators. 

"I personally disagree with the plan to install travelators. We should encourage people to walk because it is healthy for them." (fmb)