JAKARTA – MRT Jakarta is no longer just a mode of transportation to deliver passengers from one station to another.
MRT connectivity has begun to expand the function of the area around the station, from merely a transit point to a space connected to shopping centers, offices to surrounding properties.
One of the images of the change can be seen in the construction of the HI roundabout extended concourse which is located below the HI roundabout Transjakarta Stop and one level above the HI roundabout MRT station.
The project, which is being worked on by PT Integrasi Transit Jakarta (ITJ), a subsidiary of PT MRT Jakarta (Perseroda), is designed as an underground connectivity that connects the station with the surrounding commercial area.
ITJ President Director Ferdiansyah Roestam said that the idea of presenting underground connectivity between public transportation and the surrounding area has begun to grow since 2017 to 2018. However, his party still has to convince developers about the benefits of the MRT’s existence on properties.
“We bring added value, right!’. ‘Ah, the time is coming, the project won’t happen, the project won’t happen’. I know exactly how MRT friends knock on the door and then are expelled. ‘No, no, no precedent has succeeded. You get out, get out, I don’t want there to be an MRT gate in front of my building’, said Ferdi in an MRT Fellowship class in the Extended Concourse Bundaran HI project area, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 19.
Ferdi told, the experience of one of the shopping centers in the Blok M area which is connected to the MRT.
According to him, the mall, which previously had difficulty increasing occupancy, now has a tenant occupancy rate of up to 99.9 percent.
This experience was then followed by a change in attitude of a number of developers.
Ferdi revealed that one of the malls around the Bundaran HI extended concourse project was even willing to push back its building area to give wider pedestrian space.
“One of the malls on the side of the extended concourse is even willing to move back up to 80 centimeters setback area so that people on the pedestrian are so much more comfortable when the extended concourse is finished,” he said.
According to Ferdi, the change is part of a new paradigm for developers towards public transportation connectivity.
“So now many properties are entering a new paradigm. The important thing is that I am connected to public transportation, the important thing is that I can provide a good minimum service level service for people, people will be comfortable coming to my point,” he said.
Connectivity and Property Value
Separately, property observer Aleviery Akbar said that connectivity with the MRT indeed has the potential to increase the attractiveness, occupancy and value of properties.
“It is true that the MRT connection will increase the occupancy of malls, hotels and others as the nearest example is the city of Singapore where property prices and occupancy increase because it is easily accessible by MRT,” said Aleviery.
In Indonesia, Akbar saw property prices in South Jakarta which are within a radius of about two kilometers (km) from the MRT station starting to move up.
However, he admitted that the increase was not significant because of the uncertain economic situation at this time.
Even so, Aleviery considers the important factor is not only the distance of the property from the station, but the quality of its connectivity.
In the concept of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), easy, comfortable and direct connections create premium accessibility potential.
“This means that what makes the property premium is not just ‘near the MRT’, but the quality of connectivity and the quality of the area,” he said.
Therefore, said Aleviery, direct connections are considered to provide greater potential benefits than just being around the station.
“Direct MRT connectivity has the potential to increase attractiveness, occupancy and value. Just being close to the MRT does not necessarily increase value,” said Aleviery.
He also assessed that the change in the developers’ perspective on the MRT was a consequence of the development of public transportation.
“If not, the developer will lag behind the progress and development of public transportation, especially the MRT,” he said.
Transit Space Becomes Activity Center
The change in the function of the transit space can then be seen in the concept of the extended concourse of Bundaran HI.
The project, which has an area of about 4,439 square meters, is not only designed as a passenger transfer route, but also commercial and activity spaces.
On the west side, the connection is directed towards Plaza Indonesia and Grand Hyatt.
Meanwhile, the east side is connected to Wisma Nusantara and Pullman Hotel.
This area is also equipped with access in the form of stairs, elevators and escalators, as well as being prepared as a commercial and activity space.
Department Head Commercial ITJ Ricky Agung Kresna Putra said that around 24 to 25 tenants will be prepared in the extended concourse.
However, the tenants selected are not only focused on food and beverages.
“We want it to be a tenant mix, so people think that they won’t just eat. But, destination-oriented, it will definitely be more there. So there is a lifestyle,” said Ricky.
Ricky said, ITJ also prepared a space for activities such as art exhibitions, performances, and community activities.
“We do have an area that we will use for space activation or experiential,” he said.
With this concept, the Bundaran HI extended concourse is indeed prepared not only as a connectivity route, but also has commercial areas and space for public activities.
The change in the function of the space is also in line with the direction of development of a more diverse area.
Ferdi said that future urban buildings no longer have to stand with one function.
“Because in the future, DKI is now re-exercising existing buildings, not only as a single function, but can become a shopping center, can become an office, can become a sports area,” said Ferdi.
The connectivity does not stop at the extended concourse.
Ferdi said the DKI Provincial Government was preparing a larger plan to connect more parts of the HI roundabout area.
“If this is only the west and the east, then the quadrant will be connected even north-south, especially in the HI roundabout area. In other areas there are also those who are being prepared,” said Ferdi.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language.
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