No Rockwell here

Mark Bergin/WORLD

Several inches of crusted snow and ice blanketed the side streets of Denver's urban neighborhoods on a recent Wednesday morning. Brilliant beams of sunshine poured in from a cobalt blue sky overhead, melting surfaces into glistening sheens and tickling shadows with warmth and light. The scene smacked of postcard America.

But underneath the sparkling drifts of white, abandoned homes sealed up for the winter testified in silence that this was no Rockwell. One particular two-story cottage-style home now three years vacant displayed signs of an upcoming public auction and a minimum bid of just $25,000. On another hapless block nearby in the Villa Park neighborhood west of downtown, three homes showed signs of foreclosure.