Norwich – The owner of the Harp & Dragon Irish pub purchased a neighboring, historic, five-story building on Main Street today, saying he has "ideas" but no defined plans for the building beyond immediately cleaning it out and repairing the blighted façade.

Scott Capano, bidding as the principle of CAP Realty LLC, bid $28,851 for the Plaut-Cadden building at 146 Main St. - $1 more than the outstanding taxes and fees owed to the city in the tax foreclosure auction and $1 more than the city's bid of $28,850.

Other than attorney Aimee Wickless, who bid the minimum $28,850 to cover the city's interests, Capano was the only bidder. One other company, Main 138 LLC, had registered to bid but attorney Mark Block representing the firm did not bid. Spectators, including Alderman H. Tucker Braddock, also attended the auction.

Capano said he is interested in applying for financial incentives in the three downtown revitalization programs approved by voters in November 2010. The three programs offer matching grants for building code improvements, low-interest loans to building owners and rental assistance to help attract commercial tenants.

"I'm going to clean it up within the next 60 days and fix the facade," Capano said as the attorney in charge of the sale filled out bid registration paperwork. "Other than that, I only have ideas at this point."

c.bessette@theday.com