THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, July 31, 1994                  TAG: 9407290276
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON    PAGE: 21   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Cover Story 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

CASHMAN IS POINT MAN IN PEMBROKE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER IS THIRD PRESIDENT OF CBD ASSOCIATION

If Gerald Divaris is the visionary behind the Central Business District, it is up to William J. Cashman Jr. to help turn those dreams into reality.

Cashman, 45, is a principal with Langley and McDonald engineering firm on Greenwich Road, and the Central Business District Association's current and third president. Cashman, who succeeded local developer Brooks Pollock as president, is nearing the end of a two-year term.

Land development and transportation planning are Cashman's specialties, including conducting public and private sector project management studies. Generally, however, he deals with designing and building circulation systems for people and cars.

A Norfolk native, Cashman has lived in Virginia Beach for 14 years. He has had plenty of time to look at all of Hampton Roads and come to his own conclusions about where Virginia Beach is headed.

``There are some hurdles to overcome,'' said Cashman, ``but we need development with an urban character.''

To overcome any bumps along the road, Cashman can turn to the collective energy of the 8-year-old Central Business District Association, which represents about 200 businesses and 5,000 people. Together, along with the city's support, they plan to turn the area around Pembroke Mall into the city's ``primary urban center.''

``We don't need a lot of investment to accommodate development,'' said Cashman. ``The infrastructure is already in.''

He believes planned improvements will attract more people and businesses to the area. ``The office glut of the '80s has affected the market quite a bit,'' said Cashman, ``but that glut is being drawn down.''

Cashman lives in Bellamy Manor with his wife of 20 years, Susan, who works for the Social Security Administration. They have two children: Daniel, 15, a Kempsville High sophomore; and Patrick, 13, a Kempsville Middle School seventh-grader. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

William J. Cashman Jr.

Develop an urban character

KEYWORDS: PROFILE

by CNB