The former Boccaccio restaurant building in Little Italy can’t be replaced with a parking lot unless the Baltimore City Council passes an ordinance authorizing that use, according to city planners.

The vacant building at 923-937 Eastern Ave. was sold at auction in July for $1,442,000 to a group associated with the Bagby Building at 509 S. Exeter St., one block east of the former restaurant.

Lisa Regnante, president of the Little Italy Neighborhood Association (LINA), told members this month that the new owners want to tear down the nearly 9,000-square-foot restaurant building to provide parking for tenants of the Bagby Building. Tenants of the Bagby property include Baltimore Sun Media and four restaurants that are part of the Atlas Restaurant Group

But before a parking lot can be c

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