Tourism Consultant Badmouths "Last Chance Gulch"

On January 18 2007, tourism consultant Roger Brooks of Destination Development presented his creative vision for downtown Helena at a workshop sponsored by Helena's Downtown Visioning Partnership.

As reported by John Harrington of the Independent Record, Brooks had this to say about historic Last Chance Gulch: "I would never call downtown a gulch, no offense. 'Gulch' is right down there with 'ditch.'"

Sorry, Mr. Brooks, but offense is taken. Last Chance Gulch is a proud name and a proud place, in spite of nearly being destroyed by greed and Urban Renewal the 1970s. If Brooks had made his ill-considered comment a century ago, he would have been lucky to have been ridden out of town on a rail. As it was, Brooks was reportedly told to his face that he didn't "...know his ass from a hole in the ground."

Brooks' visit was sponsored by Helena's Downtown Visioning Partnership [defunct as of May 2007], who continue to champion the blocking of Last Chance Gulch by the ghastly Walking Mall. Do Downtown Visioning even care about Helena's unique heritage? After Brooks' embarrassing visit, I have to wonder.

Downtown Helena Scrutinized by Consultant

Between Jan. 15 and 18 2007, Downtown Helena will be critiqued by Roger Brooks, a consultant with Destination Development, Inc. of Olympia, WA. Brooks' visit is sponsored by Helena's Downtown Visioning Partnership, who are proponents of keeping Last Chance Gulch blocked by the notorious "Walking Mall".

Mr. Brooks' company, Destination Development, Inc., is primarily involved in developing "branding" for communities. This "branding" basically involves creating an advertising theme for the community, complete with logos, signs and props. Destination Development also devises marketing plans for communities, and suggests to local governments how best to implement the consultant's vision of what the community ought to be.

Here is Destination Development's Tourism Plan for Enumclaw, WA, complete with new horse logo.

Here is the package they are assembling for the city of Moses Lake, WA.

What Mr. Brooks will suggest for improving Downtown Helena is still a mystery, but considering that the Downtown Visioning Partnership is sponsoring his visit, it seems safe to assume that breathing life back into Last Chance Gulch by unblocking it will not be part of his creative vision. He might have some cute logo ideas, though.