The Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeastern Virginia, named for both the Norfolk-Virginia Beach metro area it encompasses and the body of water that surrounds it, is unlike most other U.S. markets. Its huge military presence, which includes the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and the largest Naval base in the world, helps keep this market on an even keel, as do the estimated 6 million people who visit its tourism haven, Virginia Beach, each year. Consequently, this growing market has not been hit nearly as hard by the retail downturn as others. The seven cities that chiefly comprise the Hampton Roads trade area—Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth and Suffolk—are expected to show a combined population well in excess of 2 million when the 2010 census is tallied, up from 1.6 million at last count. There has been some softening in retail demand. Like elsewhere, landlords have had to re-adjust expectations. Those willing to be aggressive and creative are getting deals done, though certainly not at the same numbers as just 3 years ago. While small businesses seem more willing to look at new opportunities, one overriding issue continues to be tenants’ inability to obtain financing. …