July 7, 2026 — Velma Anindya Hapsari, a research assistant at the Center for Political Studies (PUSKAPOL) at the University of Indonesia, has published an article in Inside Indonesia. The article is titled “The Kampung Bayam eviction: Can vertical housing solve the problems of the urban poor?” This article is based on the results of group research for the Urban Politics course in the UI Undergraduate Program in Political Science. The research was conducted with the theme of community power of Kampung Bayam residents before and after the eviction. However, as an output, Velma chose to narrow the topic to vertical housing in Kampung Bayam.
The focus on vertical housing stems from a common urban problem: limited land, which impacts housing availability. A similar situation occurred in Kampung Bayam following the construction of the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS). Initially, the residents of Kampung Bayam’s housing was horizontal, like a typical village, with land they typically used for farming. However, the construction of JIS has led to them facing criminalization, and the shrinking of their land has resulted in a reduction in productive agricultural land.
This article also highlights the struggle of the residents of Kampung Bayam to secure their right to live on the land. Residents frequently experience evictions, displacement, and even criminalization. Using the concept of “rights to the city,” Velma highlights that these issues stem from neoliberal urban development, which marginalizes those deemed unprofitable and accommodates the interests of those who contribute significantly to the market. After years of uncertain displacement, the residents of Kampung Bayam’s struggle finally bore fruit, with 133 families officially returning to Kampung Susun Bayam.
However, this article emphasizes that the move to vertical housing does not immediately solve residents’ problems. Velma explained the various new challenges that have emerged, ranging from the difficulty of maintaining livelihoods in more closed spaces, unclear rules for using shared spaces, to concerns about rental costs and the potential for subsequent evictions. However, vertical housing also brings benefits to the residents of Kampung Bayam because the remaining land can still be used for farming. Residents also took the initiative to use the rooftop for planting. They also submitted a proposal to develop a fish pond around the residence as a new source of income which shows the collective resilience and initiative they continue to maintain.
This paper offers an important reflection for post-eviction housing policies, especially vertical ones, that spatial planning solutions should not be designed unilaterally, but must involve residents meaningfully in the planning process to truly address their needs and the realities of their daily lives.
Read the full article: The Kampung Bayam eviction
