UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  SCHEDULE 14A

           PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Filed by the Registrant [ ]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [X]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement

[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
    14a-6(e)(2))

[X] Definitive Proxy Statement

[ ] Definitive Additional Materials

[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

                 AMERICAN RETIREMENT VILLAS PROPERTIES III, L.P.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                        ATRIA SENIOR LIVING GROUP, INC.

                            ARV ASSISTED LIVING, INC.

                           ARVP III ACQUISITION, L.P.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[ ] No fee required.

[X] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

(1)      Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

                Limited Partnership Units



(2)      Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
                8,858.807

(3)      Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
         filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
                $400

(4)      Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
                $3,543,522.80*

(5)      Total fee paid:
                $449**

[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

*   Estimated for purposes of calculating the amount of filing fee only.
    Transaction value was derived by multiplying 8,858.807 (the number of units
    of limited partnership interest of registrant outstanding as of March 24,
    2004 that are not held by ARV or its subsidiaries) by $400 (the offer
    price).

**  The amount of the filing fee, calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11 of the
    Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Fee Advisory #7 for
    Fiscal Year 2004 issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission on
    January 26, 2004, equals 0.012670% of the transaction valuation.

[X] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
    0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
    previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
    or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

    (1) Amount previously paid: $253.70

    (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: Schedule 14A

    (3) Filing Party: ARV Assisted Living, Inc., Atria Senior Living Group,
Inc., and ARVP III Acquisition, LP

    (4) Date Filed: January 21, 2004