Essexâ??s beginnings go back to 1971, when real estate entrepreneur, George M. Marcus formed Essex Property Corporation. In 1994, with a portfolio of 16 multifamily communities located on the West Coast, the Company made its public debut as Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS). Essex is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily apartment communities located in supply-constrained markets. The portfolio is concentrated in select coastal submarkets along the West Coast, including Southern California, Northern California, and the Seattle metropolitan area.