Will Boston See a Return of Triple-Decker Homes?

Boston's iconic triple-decker homes have historically provided affordable housing for working families and immigrants. But today's current zoning laws severely restrict their construction.

Amendments to Boston's zoning laws over the years now limit buildings to two and a half stories, requiring costly variances for taller structures.

As Massachusetts struggles for solutions to the housing crisis, Boston City Councilor Henry Santana is advocating for changes to the city's zoning laws.

“It's about keeping families, residents, young professionals, our immigrant families, [and] working-class people here in the city of Boston for generations to come,” Santana said in a statement shared with Boston 25 News. “We have very outdated zoning laws in Boston, and I think it's a big contribution to the housing crisis that we're seeing.”

According to Santana, his proposal has broad support from the city council and is expected to be discussed at a public hearing.

Housing advocates, such as Jesse Kanson-Benanav, executive director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts, point out that Massachusetts has significantly underbuilt housing since 1990. The state has constructed approximately 450,000 homes in the 30 years that have passed since the 1990s, compared to 900,000 homes built in the 30 years before 1990.

“We know that building and expanding the supply of homes is a critical strategy for making cities and regions more affordable. We have seen this in other parts of the country,” Kanson-Benanav explained to Boston 25 News.

Greg Vasil from the Greater Boston Real Estate Board said he favors simplifying zoning for triple-deckers but acknowledges that high construction costs remain a significant obstacle.

“Unfortunately, the economics of development that we have today are what they are, and the materials cost what they cost," Vasil said.

Boston 25 News spoke with several Jamaica Plain residents who expressed cautious support for the return to triple-deckers. Affordability remains a key concern, they said.