Mixed-use discouraging tenants?

[Bryan Johns]

In a recent discussion with a realtor (who's been doing this a lot longer than me), I mentioned that I'd like to develop a ~20,000 sqft two story building. Per zoning, the first floor could be professional office/medical space and the second floor and above would be multi-family. (There is a need for both in this area.)

He immediately pushed back, saying that the first floor professional tenants wouldn't want this right above them for various reasons (sharing parking with renters, being underneath windows where renters have hung their plants, decorations, etc.) 

Does anyone have experience in this space? Is it a bad idea? How do you effectively design a building like this that attracts both professional tenants and renters?