Price tag for Metro land deal goes up

Why it matters: Cooper tells Axios he wishes the city had bought the property earlier at the lower price, but touted the proposal as a great deal now for the city now.

• Cooper says the state could otherwise put the land up for sale at auction and garner much more than the $20 million Metro is offering. He says the 88 Hermitage property is vital for activating the Cumberland riverfront and creating more greenspace downtown as part of a new project called Wharf Park.

What he's saying: "I should be honest and tell you that some of this is forcing my hand, because the state is going to sell 88 Hermitage to somebody," Cooper says.