Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy head Cucu Ahmad Kurnia said the administration's goal was to transform Sabang into a culinary center with a modern concept.

"Sabang was very popular in the 1970s and 1980s. We would like to make it livelier, but with a modern touch," he said on Wednesday.

"We can [revitalize] the area in accordance with its uniqueness. Attractions would also be provided so people would be encouraged to visit.”

Jakarta Bina Marga Agency head Hari Nugroho said the revitalization program would not only be carried out in Sabang but also in the Kebon Bang Jaim area, which comprises Jl. Kebon Sirih, Jl. H. Agus Salim (Sabang), Jl. Jaksa and Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta.

The existing road is currently 10 meters wide and 422 m in length. It is divided into two lanes with the same direction connecting Jl. Wahid Hasyim and Jl. Kebon Sirih.

A total of 87 restaurants and formal businesses are situated along the street.

Parking lots located in front of the buildings are able to accommodate up to 145 four-wheeled vehicles.

Once the sun sets, rows of tented warungs take over some of the parking areas and attract food enthusiasts until the early hours.

The revitalization will comprise the expansion of sidewalks, installation of plants and amenities along the streets, arrangements of parking areas and arrangements of street vendors.

With the revitalization, the road will be cleared from street vendors in the afternoon, while traffic engineering would be applied at night as one lane would be designated for vehicles and street vendors each.

Currently, food tents take up both sides of the road.

“We will recommend about seven or eight locations [for street vendors],” Hari said on Wednesday. “But we have to wait for regulations issued by the governor and Central Jakarta mayor first.”

The street vendors, he said, must not sell food and beverages that generate smoke from cooking activities, and wastewater discharge is also prohibited.

The agency initially planned to revitalize the sidewalks of Kebon Bang Jaim this year but decided to postpone the project to 2021 as it was currently prioritizing areas designated for integration with public transportation, such as Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur, Jl. Pramuka, Jl. Satrio Casablanca, Jl. MT Haryono and Jl. Gatot Subroto, which totals nearly 97 kilometers in length.

Business owners operating in Sabang, however, expressed their objections to the plan over fears it would reduce their revenue by restricting parking spaces.

Sabang business owners association (PPS) head Ganefo Dewi Sutan argued the plan could cause an 80 percent in revenue.

“We are occupants of Sabang, some since 1958. We also want Sabang to be clean and tidy, but please carry out the renovations in a good way, with us having sat down together,” she said during a meeting with the Jakarta Council on Wednesday.

In addition, Ganefo suggested that the administration relocate street vendors that occupy the parking lots in the area.

“It is better to have them [street vendors] relocated to the Thamrin 10 culinary spots or Bank Syariah Mandiri culinary spot in order to make the area tidier,” she said.

PPS lawyer Nasatya Danisworo said the association also deplored the lack of transparency regarding the project, as it had received an invitation for a dissemination meeting about the project a day before the event was held
on Dec. 19.

During the meeting, the project study seemed to clear, but business players complained they were never involved in the study, according to Nasatya.

Central Jakarta Deputy Mayor Irwandi responded by saying the existing project’s study might be changed after taking into consideration the feedback of relevant stakeholders.

“I believe it was a miscommunication. We will fix it. This [project study] is in its early stages,” he claimed.

Despite the response, Ganefo expressed hope the administration would scrap its plan to use traffic engineering as initially proposed in the project’s study.

City Council Deputy Speaker Zita Anjani from the National Mandate Party (PAN) said she agreed with the planned revitalization project but with several conditions.

“There should be an arrangement in those areas, especially as it is a strategic economic area in Jakarta. This should not be turned into a conflict,” she said. “We will uphold justice for affected business owners, street vendors and residents.”

The head of the council’s Commission B overseeing the economy, Prosperous Justice Party politician (PKS) Abdul Aziz, emphasized that the project still had a long way to go and the council would be involved in determining whether it should continue or not.

“When the project is submitted to the council, we will study it in-depth,” he said.

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