Triple play

They’re pretty much everywhere here in Worcester and across New England’s cityscapes, but what do you call them?

Some say three-deckers. Others say triple-deckers. Either way, these multi-family buildings have been a fixture in the region for more than 100 years because they offer good-sized living space and are usually decently priced.

Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to check out several in Worcester that have units for rent. And even the ones that haven’t been newly renovated have no shortage of appeal. There’s usually a living room — literally, a front room — looking out on the street. It’s typically open to the dining room which often has a built-in china cabinet. Both are good sized, and so’s the kitchen — which can have a separate pantry room.

The bedrooms are typically along one side, and there are often three fairly large-sized ones. Sometimes there’s a small room at the back that I imagine was used by the maid when the buildings were new in 1890 or 1905. There’s one unit on each floor, so there aren’t any neighbors right outside your apartment door. Many now have redone exteriors that have eliminated front porches that were a typical feature. That’s unfortunate, because those porches can be a nice place to relax and watch the world go by.

But what about the name?

My family was part of the Swedish wave that settled in Greendale and Quinsig Village. We always called them three-deckers.

Plenty of others call them triple-deckers. I wonder if those names have always existed side-by-side, or if it’s down to different cities, or even different neighborhoods. I can imagine people from a century ago in Dorchester and Southie — or maybe even Shrewsbury Street or Belmont Street — calling them triple-deckers. But it sounds a bit wrong to my ears.

Either way, these buildings have played a big role for many families in the Northeast. Caring owners have renovated some to modern standards, but with a sympathetic eye for history.

Here in Worcester last week, the city established the Elm Park Neighborhood Local Historic District — the largest of four historic districts in town, and one with a decent number of three-deckers. Or triple-deckers.

No matter what you call them, that’s a win for preserving these buildings and the history they represent.