According to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, the Romanesque Revival-style property was designed in 1891 for H.H. Upham & Co, a sign-making company. The company employed 50 employees and made signs for companies across the United States, according to the society. The proposed historic district is currently being considered by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The ground floor of the building is a commercial space, while the approximately 5,000-square-foot triplex loft above can be rented for $30,000 a month. The main living room of the triplex, pictured here, is 2,000-square-feet and has 30-foot ceilings and arched windows. The building is one of several owned and managed by Mr. Weiss and Mr. Rajwan, according to Mr. Weiss

Mr. Weiss and Mr. Rajwan became acquainted in high school in Israel and moved to the United States in 1975, Mr. Weiss says. For 30 years starting in 1978, they ran a photography store called Spectra Photo. As they expanded their business, they tried to buy the buildings they were located in rather than renting, Mr. Weiss says. Their first studio was housed at 508 LaGuardia Place. Photo

Here, the kitchen of the loft. Before the opportunity to buy the building came in 1999, Mr. Weiss rented the ground floor from photographer Leon Kuzmanof, who lived in the building with his wife. She renovated the building in the 1960s when they first moved in, says Mr. Weiss, and they have largely left her design of the space intact. 'She was a minimalist and she did the space in an unbelievable manner,' says Mr. Weiss.

Here, the kitchen. Mr. Weiss and Mr. Rajwan stopped using the ground floor three years ago, and it is currently a showroom for wood flooring company Arrigoni Woods. The home's most recent tenant worked in finance, Mr. Weiss says.

Another view of the kitchen is pictured. Previous tenants of the triplex include photographer Markus Klinko from 1999 to 2006, fashion designer Johan Lindeberg from 2007 to 2009 and contestants in Nuvotv's 'Model Latina,' who stayed there while filming the reality show in 2010. 'That was an experience,' says Mr. Weiss.

One of the apartment's four bedrooms is pictured. The triplex has four bathrooms, an elevator and a roof deck that was added during a renovation of the triplex in 2010. At the time they also redid the floors, repainted and exposed some more of the brick walls in the apartment, according to Mr. Weiss.

'I don't think it's difficult to decorate because it's so dramatic,' Mr. Weiss says. 'For me it's like an open canvas, you can do great things with it.'

Shown here, the 1,600-square-foot roof deck added in 2010. Mr. Weiss says he has considered dividing the space into separate apartments with Mr. Rajwan, but they decided to stay with the current layout. 'For me it would be a shame to touch it,' he says., describing the space as 'monumental' and 'so different.' 'I'd rather sell it as is, for someone to live like that, than to count the square feet,' he says.

'New York is the once place where you will always have people who will be interested in places like this,' says Mr. Weiss. The apartment was listed with Eric Hantman of Prime NYC at the end of April and is currently being leased for three months.