ABC a new mall by the sea

September 24, 2008

Jakarta from Google Earth looks very large and brown. Look a little closer and you will notice the city has many houses with reddish brown roofs and little green public spaces. Despite that, many entertainment places are springing up, and Ancol in North Jakarta is no exception.

The area's newest project is Ancol Beach City (ABC), which will also be visible from Google Earth for marketing purposes.

"Many of Ancol's activities are outdoor. We are building an indoor recreation center to fulfill several functions," ABC's spokesman, Lukman Azis, said.

There will be an indoor auditorium that will function like the Jakarta Convention Center or Balai Sarbini, he added.

"So it's the perfect spot to hold musical events, international conventions and even weddings. And we want it to feel like Bali."

The five-story ABC will cover an area of almost 40,000 square meters, occupying land in front of Ancol's Carnaval Beach, which will be the main view. The main building will be 110,000 square meters with a parking capacity of 3,000 vehicles.

Partnering with PT. Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, PT. Wahana Agung Indonesia Propertindo is developing this latest lifestyle project.

ABC is purported to be an environmentally friendly project. "The company has done a feasibility study for its impact on the environment.

"We are located inside the area of Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, which has a large green space," Lukman said.

The ratio for green area and buildings in Ancol is 60 to 40, he added.

ABC will concentrate on the food and beverage industry, as the plans call for many cafes and restaurants.

"However, right now we are focusing on the physical development. After Lebaran we plan to sell the space and launch it. We are confident top name brands and chains will open here."

The spokesman said ABC would be the first mall in Jakarta with a concert hall (auditorium) for 10,000 people with a beach view.

The proposed ABC facility includes plans for a beach recreation spot, children's playground, retails shops, restaurants and a helicopter landing pad.

"We will also be able to use the auditorium for automotive exhibitions because of easy access from the lobby to the inside part of the hall."