Who knew when to use clotheslines in NYC highrises?

Question

and did they belong to individual families or the neighborhood.

Are they still being used?

Answer 1

I live in Europe and have 13' high ceilings in my flat.

I have a clothes line on a pully that comes down from the ceiling in either my kitchen or bathroom.

If things are too heavy to hang on there, I dry them in my loft.

Answer 2

Drying clothes outside via clothesline is kind of outmoded today.  I expect now everyone uses electric driers.  Besides with air pollution, pigeons, and rain, it may not be a good way to dry them.

Answer 3

even in the  city a  good windy  day  will  get  your  stuff dry  and  smelling  fresh. but  not  on  a  smog day when the air is still.

many urban  developers  have  passed by-laws  banning them  but  energy prices  may soon see a reversal of  that if citizens  are  allowed  to  sue  environmentally unfriendly corporations under  existing  legislation.

Answer 4

they don't get used anymore.  people use dryers now.