Space in NYC is at such a premium, it’s a fair guess that your laundry room is larger than the average living room in Manhattan. Maybe larger than the whole apartment.
Now that w/d’s are so much smaller, and stackable, it makes sense to fit them into an apt, give up a closet for the convenience.
Which is why the liberals in Manhattan are always whining about urban sprawl and "McMansions", it's envy.