They popped the facade on these Jefferson Street houses almost overnight, so it was a surprise when I passed them on my way to the Myrtle J that they were in the process of taking down the scaffolding. I’m pleased to say that they are not hideous. Neither will they win an architectural award but they are not anything near the ugliest “Fedders Specials” in Bushwick, or even this very block. It may be difficult to tell from the photo, but the houses are built right up to the property line, even around the corner on Evergreen, eliminating a main aesthetic problem associated with this kind of new construction. The verdict is still out on whether they will put those stupid cartoon-roof shaped overhangs over the doors — I’m betting yes.

They are of course billed as “luxury 2-family homes,” but I am sure they will be the same 7-foot-wide bedroom dorms as the rest of their ilk. Add the fact that the paper warehouse across the street is the view and it’s safe to say the word “luxury” is officially meaningless in the real estate industry.