The Jakarta Post | Mon, 06/08/2009 8:56 PM | Jakarta
Change of functions: A number of public order officers seal a house at Pondok Indah, South Jakarta due to their illegal change in function, from residential to commercial. The officers sealed a total of nine houses Monday. JP/Wendra AJistyatama
Teguh utomo atmoko (not verified) — Thu, 06/11/2009 - 10:02am
The change of land use, from residential to commercial, along the main roads in Jakarta is caused by a complete failure to anticipate the future growth of the city. These changes occur within planned and spontaneus subdivision developments. Developers often utilize lots along the main roads of their projects exclusively for residential properties. The fact is that, in the future, these roads will most likely become through roads to other subdivision developments, and generate enough vechihular traffic to create substantial nuisance noise in the residential area. At the same time, this traffic will create enough market/ visitors for commercial development. Indonesian developers often forget to provide shopping streets within their projects. Only a few new subdivisions provide adequate shopping streets, as in Menteng and Kelapa Gading. Therefore the change of land use along these, initially residential, roads is inevetabe.