Lawyers for a long-time Tennessee State Fair vendor and a fairgrounds neighbor filed suit late Friday to keep the fair where it's been for more than a century.

The suit was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court on behalf of fair vendor company Catering by Granny's and LeeAnn Sterry, who owns property adjacent to the fairgrounds. It seeks a writ of mandamus against Metro Nashville government, requiring Metro to "allow" the Board of Fair Commissioners to hold a state fair at the south Nashville site, which preservationists say is required by state law.

"The 1923 act confirms the state's lease is cancelled ... but it did not relieve the fair board of its responsibility. The Metro government is not in the position to relieve the fair board of its property," attorney Robert Rutherford said.

The fairgrounds is set to be shuttered later this year and has been targeted by Mayor Karl Dean for redevelopment, possibly for affordable housing.

But fair preservationists maintain the nearly-century-old act by the Tennessee General Assembly require the fairgrounds to host, in perpetuity, a state fair of at least six days in length.

"I don't believe [Metro] can do anything that causes the fair board to violate state statute," Rutherford said.

No date has been set for a hearing on the suit.