But the couple behind the project have defended it as "a community asset" and say people want another place to eat, drink coffee and socialise.
A $20,000 heritage grant was allocated by the Dunedin City Council for the re-roofing, plaster repair and exterior painting of the former ground floor corner shop and upstairs dwelling, built for storekeeper J Airey in 1923, at the corner of Russell and Arthur Sts.
The owners, Tansy Hayden and Paul Keesing, this year applied for resource consent to establish a licensed cafe — called Tomboy — a small grocery offering and visitor accommodation in the now-pink building.
The application was publicly notified by the council and attracted three public submissions.
Arthur St resident Joanne Baldwin, the only submitter opposed, detailed 15 reasons why the application should "be declined in full".
She had lived in Arthur St for nearly a decade, in that time restoring the 1870 cottage she was living in "to its former glory".
She was concerned the cafe’s proposed operating hours (7am-10pm, Monday to Sunday) could introduce a number of adverse effects — noise, smoking, vehicle movements, odours, lighting — and general activity atypical to that of residential land use.
"There will be an increase in smokers, vaping and anti-social behaviour as a result of this proposal.
"This proposal will directly affect the amenity of my property and therefore impact the property value."
It would also introduce additional demand for parking when capacity was already met, she said.
The application for the cafe acknowledged the 233sqm site was located within a residential setting, but stated it had "a long history associated with non-residential use".
Mr Keesing said they believed it was always important to hear what the community was saying.
In addition to the public submissions, they had received dozens of personal messages from neighbours and visitors.
"All have been encouraging and supportive.
"People want a place to eat, drink coffee and more importantly have somewhere to socialise."
The law was pretty clear about smoking outside of food and beverage serving premises, and if granted a liquor licence they would always act under those conditions, he said.
Tomboy was not a "booze barn — it’s a community asset for people to enjoy and partake in building a community spirit".
While they could not control what people did out on the street, they would ask any future patrons to respect both other customers and neighbours.
"We firmly believe that the quiet enjoyment of good food, coffee and a glass of local wine enhances any urban environment."
Submitter Andrina Kitto fully supported the application.
"The proposal of Tomboy makes very good use of this heritage building thereby preserving the character of this very old early settled part of Dunedin."
Heidi Greenfield, while generally supportive, had concerns about noise and increased demand for parking.
Council resource consents manager Alan Worthington said a decision was to be expected next year.
