Philadelphia Rowhouse Owners Embrace the 'Overbuild'

Quarters can be cramped for growing families in Philadelphia's many two-story rowhouses. Rather than decamp to the suburbs, more and more homeowners are simply adding a third story, known as an "overbuild."

1 minute read

July 10, 2018, 12:00 PM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Philadelphia Rowhouses

Mike Linksvayer / Flickr

"Think of them as a gentle form of densification," writes Inga Saffron on a growing Philadelphia trend. Faced with space constraints, many rowhouse owners are tacking third stories onto two-floor structures originally built for immigrant workers.

"These vertical additions, sometimes called 'overbuilds,' have always been a staple of rowhouse life in Philadelphia. But thanks to a decadelong boom in the real estate market and a change in the zoning code that allows taller houses, homeowners have embraced the overbuild with a vengeance."

While overbuilds have contributed to gentrification in some areas, they have their benefits. "Large suburban homes are still the norm in America, and overbuilds help Philadelphia compete by making it possible for people to continue living in the city as their families grow."

From an aesthetic angle, Saffron critiques an existing rule requiring third-floor additions to be set back eight feet from the front of the structure. "But why? Philadelphia has plenty of three-story rowhouses, and developers who build new houses aren't required to set back the third floor. What is the logic for pushing back the new structure, especially in neighborhoods that aren't part of a historic district?" 

Thursday, June 21, 2018 in Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly.com

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2, 2025 - SD News

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Pump station with blue pipes coming out of concrete wall in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Builds Subway-Sized Tunnel — for Stormwater

The $700 million ‘stormwater subway’ is designed to handle overflows during storms, which contain toxic runoff from roadways and vehicles.

1 hour ago - City Observatory

Sign for Deschutes National Forest in Oregon.

Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest

The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.

3 hours ago - The New York Times

Seeing the Better City

Is This Urbanism?

Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.

4 hours ago - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.