Dust Devils: Amtrak lot gets Durasoil after West Main complaints (TPD1011022)

Eight months later, some West Main business owners have decided that it’s been bad behavior, not bad weather, that’s left the parking lot unpaved. For instance,     Maya restaurant owner and Midtown Association member Peter Castiglione called the lot a “blight” on the neighborhood. Indeed, as an early morning photograph     taken by the Hook shows, the dust from the lot can nearly block out the view of West Main. Along with several other business owners, Castiglione finally decided to talk about a lawsuit against Cadgene and Silverman to get them to finally do something about their dust. Not to mention the sizable potholes that have plagued the lot.

Apparently, Castiglione got the duo’s attention. He says that Cadgene suddenly promised to treat the parking lot with a product called Durasoil, a synthetic-organic fluid that controls road dust. Preparation for the Durasoil began on the morning of Tuesday, November 2.

“They have been very responsive since our lawyer got involved,” says Castiglione. “I have little faith that this treatment will be a long term solution. We will watch and wait.”

Meanwhile, Castiglione says he’s been taking video of the lot every day on his way to work, and if the treatment should begin to wear off he’s prepared to follow through with a lawsuit. While a reporter was unable to reach Silverman or Cadgene for comment, Castiglione says he was told that they would treat the lot on a consistent basis to stop the dust problem until it is paved or otherwise developed.

“The sad part,” says Castiglione, “is that the only way we could get them to do anything was to threaten a lawsuit and go back to the media.”

Dish recently asked city officials if the lot violated the blighted property ordinance, which includes “deleterious land use,” i.e. one that is “detrimental to the safety, health, or welfare of the community.”