SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                    Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )
        
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_] 

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

[X]  Definitive Additional Materials

[_]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                      EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


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                 [LOGO OF EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST]
                           TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA
                            CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606
 
                              IMPORTANT REMINDER
 
Dear Equity Residential Properties Trust Shareholder:
 
  The special meeting of shareholders of Equity Residential Properties Trust
("EQR") will take place on Tuesday, December 23, 1997. THIS LETTER IS TO
REMIND YOU THAT YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT TO US NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW
SHARES YOU OWN.
 
  At the special meeting you will be asked to approve the tax free merger of
Evans Withycombe Residential, Inc. ("EWR") with EQR. In the merger, each
outstanding share of EWR will be converted into 0.5 of a share of EQR common
stock.
 
  As detailed in the joint proxy statement previously mailed to you, the
merger will benefit EQR in the following ways:
 
 .  Solidify EQR's leadership position in the multifamily property industry and
   EQR as the largest publicly traded multifamily REIT (based on the aggregate
   market value of its outstanding equity capitalization).
 
 .  Acquire a high-quality portfolio of approximately 16,000 apartment units.
 
 .  Expand EQR's operations in Arizona and Southern California.
 
 .  Create a resulting company better equipped to meet competitive challenges
   by increasing its size and achieving greater economics of scale.
 
 .  Provide greater access to capital.
 
 .  Improve EQR's capability to expand and monitor EQR's relationship with
   third-party developers who build multifamily properties for EQR to purchase
   upon completion.
 
  YOUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS APPROVED THE MERGER AND BELIEVES THE MERGER IS IN
THE BEST INTEREST OF EQR AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS, AND RECOMMENDS THAT ALL
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE MERGER.
 
  TO DATE YOUR PROXY HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ CAREFULLY
THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT PREVIOUSLY MAILED TO YOU AND VOTE PROMPTLY USING THE
ENCLOSED DUPLICATE PROXY FORM. SHAREHOLDERS MAY ALSO VOTE BY TELEPHONE BY
CALLING THE TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER INDICATED IN THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER
OF THE ENCLOSED PROXY FORM. REMEMBER A FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE SAME
EFFECT AS A VOTE AGAINST THE MERGER SINCE THE MERGER PROPOSAL REQUIRES THE
APPROVAL OF MORE THAN 50% OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES.
 
  If you need another copy of the joint proxy statement or have any questions,
please contact our proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc. toll free at
(800) 322-2885 or (212) 929-5500 (call collect).
 
  We appreciate your prompt attention to voting your shares and thank you for
your continued interest in your Company.
 
                                      Sincerely,
 
                                      /s/ Douglas Crocker II

                                      Douglas Crocker II,
                                      Chief Executive Officer, President and
                                       Trustee