ESSEX PROPETY TRUST, INC. POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes,
constitutes and appoints each of Keith R. Guericke or
Michael T. Dance, any one signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

(1)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of
Essex Property Trust, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4 and 5
and any other forms required to be filed in accordance with
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
rules thereunder;

(2)	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of
the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to
complete and execute any such Form 3, 4 and 5 and
any other forms, complete and execute any amendment or
amendment thereto, and timely file such form with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock
exchange or similar authority; and

(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of
such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best
interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being
understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact
on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney
shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions
as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full
power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the
exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully
to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do
if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or
such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney
and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges
that the foregoing attorney-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at
the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company
assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until
the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with
respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in
securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the
undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact. This Power of Attorney may be filed with the
SEC as a confirming statement of authority granted herein.

In witness whereof, the undersigned has signed this Power of
Attorney as of the 19th day of September, 2006.

Gary P. Martin
____________________________
Name (printed)

/S/Gary P. Martin
____________________________
Signature