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Renovation hoped to revive Tanah Abang’s Blok G
Compared to the other blocks at Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta, Blok G is rather quiet, despite what should be an advantageous location within Southeast Asia’s largest textile market
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span>Compared to the other blocks at Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta, Blok G is rather quiet, despite what should be an advantageous location within Southeast Asia’s largest textile market.
The three-story building is situated next to Tanah Abang Station, to which it is connected by a sky bridge. Still, Blok G’s empty kiosks and silent aisles, especially on its third floor, are a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the busy area.
Most customers prefer to shop at Blok A and Blok B, which are located a bit farther from the station but are equipped with air conditioners. The two buildings also have more traders, whose packed stores offer various textiles, clothing, Muslim attire and other items.
Blok G, meanwhile, has vendors of various products, from clothing, shoes and bags to vegetables and other groceries on the lower two floors.
In a bid to bring life back to the building, the Jakarta administration held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the construction of a temporary marketplace, to which vendors will be relocated while the building is torn down and rebuilt.
Having allocated Rp 32 billion (US$2.25 million) for the temporary market, the city plans to complete the construction within a year.
There will be two temporary market place buildings occupying Blok G’s parking lot, one in the front for clothes, shoes and bag vendors, while the rear will be designated for grocery vendors. “We want to offer convenience to vendors,” PD Pasar Jaya president director Arief Nasrudin told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
To rebuild Blok G, Arief said the city might have to allocate another Rp 300 billion to Rp 500 billion for the project, which could take up to three years to complete. No details have been provided on the start of renovation works for Blok G.
Arief said the city was also deciding on whether to provide low-cost housing above the market. The city is still working to adjust the floor area ratio (KLB) with the land’s total area, which is not more than 5,000 square meters.
The Jakarta administration has spent years trying to add charm to Blok G. Under then-governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, street vendors around Tanah Abang were relocated to the building in 2013 to clear the roads, reduce traffic and improve business.
However, after one year, the vendors returned to the streets, citing a lack of business inside the building.
Another plan was rolled out by Jokowi’s successor, Basuki “BTP” Tjahaja Purnama, who launched a total renovation plan in April 2015. He planned to offer the project to private developers but the plan was eventually scrapped leaving Blok G’s quiet fate hanging in the balance.
Then, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan issued a gubernatorial decree on the renovation last year, stating that the works would be carried out by city-owned property firm PD Pembangunan Sarana Jaya.
Indonesian Shopping Center Association (APPBI) head Stefanus Ridwan said in spite of its strategic position and the new building project, the city needed to find a fresh concept for Blok G that would differentiate it from other blocks in Tanah Abang.
“For example, they can open a food court for the whole market area with proper facilities, such as restrooms and sufficient parking spaces. Find that uniqueness that can attract people,” he told the Post.
“Otherwise, the project would be a waste of money,” he added.
The renovation plan, although expected by vendors to boost their sales, has also raised concerns among vendors.
Mother and daughter Lastri and Asih said they were worried about safety during the project as they claimed most vendors had little information about the plan.
“We are used to staying in our kiosks all night. Can we do that in the temporary market place?” Lastri, 60, said, noting that she had been relocated five times in the last three decades.
“Will it be safe for us to do business amid a massive construction project going on a stone’s throw away before our eyes?” Asih said.
Another vendor, 55-year-old Sonny, who runs a men’s attire shop on Blok G’s first floor, said he was worried about whether he would be allocated a space in the new building.
“Will the rent be much higher? Will PD Pasar Jaya opt to sell the units to vendors that have more money than us?” he asked.
