“Planned community” might not sound thrilling. Let’s talk about BSD City. It’s more than just a housing development. It is a vision realized.
BSD City began in 1984. A group of private developers planned an independent township. It was formerly known as Bumi Serpong Damai. Development started in 1989. The goal was ambitious. Create a self-sustaining community.
Imagine Serpong in the 1980s. It was mostly rubber plantations. Asphalt roads were scarce. Electricity was a dream for many. Ir. Ciputra envisioned something different. A planned city. It would combine housing, business, and commerce. Eleven private companies backed the project. The initial investment was huge. It was Rp 3.2 trillion.
The Minister of Home Affairs inaugurated BSD City. This happened on January 16, 1989. During the 1990s, it was Indonesia’s most ambitious urban plan. BSD City aimed to provide everything for its residents. Housing. Businesses. Public facilities.
The 1997 Asian financial crisis hit Indonesia hard. Real estate stagnated for five years. Bumi Serpong Damai changed ownership. Sinar Mas Land took over around 2003. They rebranded it as BSD City. New residential clusters were built. These had names like De Latinos and The Icon.
BSD City continued to grow. It expanded into Tangerang Regency. They plan to build the next phase there. International property companies collaborated on new projects. Hong Kong Land created “Nava Park”. Mitsubishi Corp developed “The Zora”. BSD City became known as an affluent district. It is now an elite area within Jabodetabek.
Access to BSD City improved. The Toll road extended to Balaraja. A direct connection to JORR 2 was built. BSD City is now well-connected.
BSD City covers 6,000 hectares. This includes residential houses and apartments. There are also malls and offices. Most residential areas target Indonesia’s upper-middle class. These are in gated neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has a different theme.
BSD City is designed for sustainability. It has businesses and schools. There are also shopping malls and hospitals. You can find hotels here too. It focuses on climate water and waste management. BSD City has over 400 hectares of green space and parks.
Transportation is a key feature. BSD City is near several toll roads. These connect it to Jakarta and other cities. The Jakarta–Serpong Toll Road runs through its south end. The Serpong–Balaraja Toll Road will cross West BSD.
Public transport is also available. Serpong Rawa Buntu and Cisauk railway stations are nearby. These connect to the KRL Commuterline. TransJakarta has a feeder route to Jelambar. There are also free shuttle buses within BSD City.
Future LRT lines are planned. BSD City is set to be a central hub. This will connect West Java and Banten provinces. It aims to alleviate traffic congestion. It also integrates public transportation networks.
BSD City is a pioneering urban settlement. It is a sustainable response to rapid urbanization.