Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Alexander Erik J.
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/18/2010		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC [ESS]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
925 EAST MEADOW DRIVE		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Senior Vice President
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

PALO ALTO, CA 94303		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 5,000
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Series Z-1 Incentive Units   (1)   (1) Series Z Unit Incentive 13,577 $ 1 (3) D  
Series Z-1 Incentive Units   (2)   (2) Series Z Unit Incentive 2,510 $ 1 (3) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Alexander Erik J.
925 EAST MEADOW DRIVE
PALO ALTO, CA 94303		       Senior Vice President  

Signatures

Michael T. Dance (Attorney-in-Fact) 05/19/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Represents the grant of Series Z-1 Incentive Units pursuant to the Essex Portfolio, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan issued in March 2004. The conversion ratchet percentage, initially set at 20%, will increase by up to 10% on January 1 of each year for each holder of Series Z-1 units who remains employed by the issuer and has met a specified 'funds from operations' per share target or other criteria established by the Compensation Committee, for the prior year, up to a maximum conversion ratchet percentage of 100%.These Units have no expiration date.
(2) Represents the grant or Series Z-1 Incentive Units pursuant to the Essex Portfolio, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan issued in December 2005. The conversion ratchet percentage, initially set at 20%, will increase by up to 10% on January 1 of each year for each holder of Series Z-1 Incentive Units who remains employed by the issuer and has met a specified 'funds from operations' per share target or other criteria established by the Compensation Committee, for the prior year, up to the maximum conversion ratchet percentage of 100%. These Units have no expiration date.
(3) A capital contribution of $1.00 per series Z & Z-1 Incentive Units

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