Realizing Jakarta as a Collaborative City

PART I

In his inauguration speech, Governor Anies Baswedan mentioned the word collaborative city as one of his visions in developing Jakarta. What exactly is a collaborative city?

The definition of a collaborative city is simply "a partnership between the public and private sectors to realize a common goal". Collaborative cities are already a concept in many cities, especially those in developed countries.

New York did so under the leadership of mayor Michael Bloomberg. Under his leadership, he engaged citizens, non-profit organizations, and businesses to participate in shaping city policies. Meanwhile, Singapore City realized a collaborative city by easing the licensing process if the development is in accordance with the city plan.

Hearing the story above, some people might think, "Jakarta is different from New York and Singapore!". So, how can the government implement this concept in Jakarta according to the Governor's vision?

Incentivizing the law-abiding

To realize this vision, the DKI Jakarta government does not need to go to great lengths. There is no need to create new regulations that will take years or eliminate regulations that will usually cause debate.

For starters, collaboration between government and society can be as simple as rewarding those who obey the rules. For example, by making the roads easier for those who always want to obey the rules.

As an architect, I often find it difficult to apply for building permits. Logically, the licensing process should be easier when I follow the government's rules.

In fact, the government has never differentiated between the supporters of city policies and the violators. In applying for a building permit, both experience difficulties through a long-winded process.

Streamline licensing to realize collaborative cities

Currently, developers need to go through 17 stages of licensing before they can build a building. Of these many stages, there are many repetitive provisions that make the licensing process longer and more complicated.

For example, a building has complied with the provisions stated in the Local Regulation on Spatial Detail Plan No. 1/2014. By complying with the local regulation, matters such as verification of use, area, floor height, and environmental impact analysis (AMDAL) should no longer be required at later stages. In reality, these are still requested and even required repeatedly at different stages of the process.

With incentives to accelerate building permits for those who follow government regulations, I believe more developers and architects will participate in building the city as a collaborative city.

For example, they can participate in the government's program to meet the housing needs in Jakarta, which still has a deficit of 300,000 units.

With an easier licensing process, the benefits:

• Housing needs can be increasingly met
• Housing will be more affordable as developers can cut costs from the lengthy business license process
• Without much effort, the government can realize the vision of a collaborative city.

Therefore, the government should immediately ease the licensing process as an incentive for the law-abiding. After all, all it takes to do so is the desire to make Jakarta more advanced. Plus, a healthy cycle like this will also help improve Indonesia's ease of doing business index, especially the property business which contributes nearly 20 percent of the city's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Steve J. Manahampi

Steve J. Manahampi is the chairman of the Indonesian Architects Association (IAI) Jakarta for the period 2009 - 2018. Besides being busy serving as chairman of IAI Jakarta, the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and University of Indonesia (UI) graduate is also the owner of WAGA, an architectural consulting firm that specializes in planning high-rise and mixed-use commercial buildings. Some of his works include Blok M Office tower in South Jakarta, Jogjakarta Cultural Center, and Jimbaran Hotel and Villa in Bali.