<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                                                                THOMAS L. WILKES


                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of January
1, 1997, by and between COLUMBUS REALTY TRUST, a Texas real estate investment
trust with offices at 15851 Dallas Parkway, Suite 855, Dallas, Texas 75240 (the
"Company") and Thomas L. Wilkes, an individual residing at 4005 Echo Ridge,
Carrollton, Texas  75007 (the "Executive").

     WHEREAS, the Executive is currently employed by the Company as its Senior
Vice President-Management;

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive, and the
Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company; and

     WHEREAS, this Agreement shall supersede and replace all prior employment
agreements between the Company and the Executive.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration
(including, without limitation, the award of restricted Common Shares
contemplated herein), the adequacy and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  Employment.  The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the
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Executive hereby agrees to be employed by the Company, for a term (the
"Employment Period") commencing on the date hereof and expiring on December 31,
1999 (the "Expiration Date"); provided that such Expiration Date shall
automatically be extended to December 31, 2000 and each December 31 thereafter,
if written notice is not given, by Executive to the Company or by the Company to
Executive, of such party's intent not to extend or renew this Agreement at least
six (6) months prior to the Expiration Date (as such date may have been
previously extended pursuant to this Paragraph 1).

     2.  Duties and Responsibilities.  During the Employment Period, the
         ---------------------------                                    
Executive shall devote substantially all of his best efforts and all of his
business time, skill and attention to the business of the Company.  Executive
shall hold the office of Senior Vice President-Management of the Company and
shall, during the Employment Period, hold such additional offices to which
Executive may be elected by the Board of Trust Managers of the Company (the
"Board").  Executive shall perform such duties as may, from time to time be
specifically enumerated by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Operating Officer or any other executive officer of the Company;
provided
<PAGE>
 
that Executive's duties shall not be materially different than those typically
held by other comparable officers of real estate investment trusts similar to
the Company.  The foregoing is not intended to preclude the Executive from
owning and managing personal investments, including real estate investments,
subject to the restrictions set forth in Paragraph 11 hereof and provided that
the time devoted to such activities shall not be material and shall not detract
from the performance of the Executive's duties hereunder.

     3.   Compensation.
          ------------ 

          (a) Annual Base Salary.  For all services rendered by the Executive
              ------------------                                             
     pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Executive an
     annual base salary in the amount of $150,000 (which may consist, in part,
     of restricted Common Shares as contemplated below) for the period from the
     date hereof through December 31, 1997 (as adjusted from time to time, the
     "Annual Base Salary").  Thereafter, the Annual Base Salary may be increased
     as determined by the Executive Compensation Committee (herein so called) of
     the Board in its sole discretion.  In no event shall the Annual Base Salary
     be reduced.  All such compensation shall be paid bi-weekly or at such other
     regular intervals, not less frequently than monthly, as the Company may
     establish from time to time for executive employees of the Company.  In
     each calendar year during the term hereof, the Company may issue to
     Executive, in satisfaction of a portion of Executive's Annual Base Salary,
     restricted common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, par value
     $.01 per share (the "Common Shares") having a fair market value of up to
     $25,000, determined as of the date of grant (based upon the average closing
     price of the Company's Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange during
     the 30-day period preceding the date of grant) and without taking into
     account any conditions, restrictions or forfeiture provisions applicable to
     such Common Shares to be issued to Executive.  Any such award of restricted
     Common Shares shall be made on such date during the first quarter of the
     applicable calendar year as determined by the Board or the committee
     administering any plan pursuant to which such restricted Common Shares may
     be issued.  The date of grant and the terms, conditions, restrictions and
     forfeiture provisions shall be set forth in a written award agreement
     evidencing such grant which shall contain substantially the same terms and
     conditions as contained in the Award Agreement dated January 8, 1996,
     awarding Executive 3,099 restricted Common Shares.  Any such award of
     restricted Common Shares in any calendar year shall reduce the cash portion
     of the Annual Base Salary payable for such calendar year by an amount equal
     to the fair market value (determined as set forth above) of the restricted
     Common Shares issued.

          (b) Bonus.  In addition to the compensation set forth in Paragraph
              -----                                                         
     3(a) above, the Executive may be awarded such bonus for each calendar year
     of his employment hereunder as the Executive Compensation Committee shall
     determine in their sole discretion.  In determining such bonus, the
     Executive understands that

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     the Executive Compensation Committee will consider, without limitation, the
     following factors with respect to the applicable calendar year:  the
     financial performance, business performance and growth of the Company and
     the Executive's department during such period; whether Executive's
     department has satisfied or achieved specified goals; Executive's
     responsibilities as an officer of the Company (including his participation
     in transactions of particular financial or business significance to the
     Company) during such period; the total compensation package paid to
     executive officers having similar responsibilities as the Executive who are
     employed by real estate investment trusts which are similar to the Company;
     and such other factors as the Executive Compensation Committee may deem
     appropriate in its sole discretion.

          (c) Withholding.  The Company shall have the right to deduct and
              -----------                                                 
     withhold from such compensation all social security and other federal,
     state and local taxes and charges which currently are or which hereafter
     may be required by law to be so deducted and withheld.

          (d) Expenses.  The Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive for
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     all out-of-pocket expenses actually and necessarily incurred by him in the
     conduct of the business of the Company against reasonable substantiation
     submitted with respect thereto.

     4.   Benefits.  The Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits:
          --------                                                             

          (a)  participation in the Company's Profit Sharing Plan, Share Option
     Plan, Management Incentive Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan and other
     benefit plans made generally available to executives of the Company;

          (b)  participation in any health insurance, disability insurance,
     group life insurance or other welfare benefit programs made generally
     available to executives of the Company; and

          (c)  paid vacation each year, to be taken at such times that are
     consistent with the reasonable business needs of the Company.  All vacation
     shall be subject to the policies and procedures of the Company.

     5.   Indemnification.  The Company shall indemnify the Executive in the
          ---------------                                                   
performance of his duties pursuant to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the
Company and to the fullest extent allowed by applicable law.

     6.   Termination of the Agreement.
          ---------------------------- 

          (a) Disability.  If the Executive shall fail, because of illness or
              ----------                                                     
     incapacity, to render the services contemplated by this Agreement for six
     successive months,

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     the Board may determine, on the basis of the advice of an independent
     qualified physician, that the Executive has become disabled.  If within
     thirty (30) days after the date on which written notice of such
     determination is given to the Executive, the Executive shall not have
     returned to the full-time performance of his duties hereunder, the Company
     may terminate this Agreement and the employment of the Executive hereunder
     in accordance with Paragraph 8 hereof.

          (b) Death.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if the
              -----                                                         
     Executive shall die during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
     be deemed to have been terminated as of the date of death of the Executive.

          (c) For Cause.  The Company, by notice to the Executive, may terminate
              ---------                                                         
     this Agreement prior to the Expiration Date for Cause (as hereafter
     defined).  As used herein, "Cause" shall mean (i) the continued failure by
     the Executive to substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than any
     such failure resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
     mental illness) for a period of thirty (30) days after a written demand for
     performance is delivered to the Executive by the Company, specifically
     identifying the manner in which the Company believes that the Executive has
     not satisfactorily performed his duties, (ii) the engaging by the Executive
     in misconduct which is injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise or
     (iii) the violation by the Executive of the provisions of Paragraphs 9, 10
     or 11 hereof.

          (d) For Good Reason.  The Executive may terminate this Agreement prior
              ---------------                                                   
     to the Expiration Date for "Good Reason" if any of the following events
     occurs without the Executive's express written consent:

                  (i)   any assignment to Executive, without Executive's prior
          written consent, of duties materially different than those
          contemplated by Paragraph 2 hereof;

                  (ii)  a reduction in the Executive's Annual Base Salary or any
          material reduction in other benefits (except for bonuses or similar
          discretionary payments) as in effect at the time in question, or any
          other failure by the Company to comply with Paragraph 3 hereof; or

                  (iii) the failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory
          agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform this
          Agreement, as contemplated in Paragraph 15 hereof.

     7.   Date of Termination, Etc.  "Date of Termination" shall mean the date
          -------------------------                                           
Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Paragraph 6 above.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     8.   Compensation Upon Termination, During Disability or Upon Change of
          ------------------------------------------------------------------
Control.
------- 

          (a) Disability or Death.  During any period that the Executive fails
              -------------------                                             
     to perform his duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical
     or mental illness, the Executive shall continue to receive his Annual Base
     Salary at the rate in effect at the commencement of any such period until
     his employment is terminated pursuant to Paragraph 6(a) hereof, together
     with the average prorata bonus payable pursuant to Paragraph 3(b).  If the
     Executive's employment shall be terminated by reason of the Executive's
     death, the Annual Base Salary together with the average prorata bonus
     payable pursuant to Paragraph 3(b) which has accrued through the Date of
     Termination shall be paid to the Executive's estate or personal
     representative.  Following termination pursuant to Paragraph 6(a) or
     Paragraph 6(b) hereof, the Company will pay to the Executive, his estate or
     personal representative 2.99 times the Executive's Total Compensation (as
     defined below) for the immediately preceding twelve-month period to and
     including the date of termination.  "Total Compensation" shall mean
     compensation of any nature and from any source, including, without
     limitation, (i) Annual Base Salary, (ii) bonus awards (whether cash or
     noncash), (iii) the fair market value of any common shares or other shares
     of capital stock, stock options or other equity based compensation awarded
     to the Executive during the relevant twelve (12) month period, whether or
     not vested, restricted or subject to forfeiture (the fair market value
     which shall be determined as of the date of grant without taking into
     consideration any provisions as to vesting or forfeiture or provisions as
     to restriction on transfer) and (iv) all perquisites paid, awarded or
     otherwise available to the Executive during the relevant period.  The
     aforesaid amount shall be payable, at the option of the Executive, his
     estate or personal representative, either (A) in full immediately upon such
     termination or (B) semi-monthly over the remainder of the Employment
     Period.

          (b) For Cause or Without Good Reason.  If the Executive's employment
              --------------------------------                                
     shall be terminated, at any time prior to the Expiration Date, for Cause or
     by him other than for Good Reason, the Executive shall be paid the
     Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination at the rate
     in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given.  The Company shall
     thereafter have no further obligations to the Executive under this
     Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the termination
     by Executive of his employment without Good Reason at any time within the
     twelve (12) month period following the date of the occurrence of a "Change
     of Control" as defined below, the Company shall pay to Executive, in
     addition to Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination,
     a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the prorata portion of Executive's
     Annual Base Salary which would have been payable to Executive during the
     three (3) month period following the Date of Termination.  In addition,
     notwithstanding the foregoing or any provisions of any stock option or
     stock award agreement, in the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     event of such termination following a "Change in Control," all unvested
     Common Shares of the Company owned or held by Executive (whether restricted
     or unrestricted) and all unvested options or other rights to acquire Common
     Shares of the Company shall become immediately vested and no longer subject
     to forfeiture or shall become fully vested and immediately exercisable for
     the sixty (60) days following Executive's termination of employment, as
     applicable.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of any
     stock option award agreement or any agreement evidencing a grant of
     restricted stock or other similar award and the foregoing provisions, the
     foregoing provisions shall control.  A "Change in Control" for purposes of
     this Agreement shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
     (i) any "person" or "group" of persons, as such terms are used in Sections
     13 and 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
     Act"), other than any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company,
     becomes the "beneficial owner," as such term is used in Section 13 of the
     Exchange Act, of thirty percent (30%) or more of the Common Shares of the
     Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to such acquisition; (ii)
     any Common Shares of the Company are purchased pursuant to a tender or
     exchange offer other than an offer by the Company; or (iii) the dissolution
     or liquidation of the Company or the consummation of any merger or
     consolidation of the Company or any sale or other disposition of all or
     substantially all of its assets, if the shareholders of the Company
     immediately before such transaction own, immediately after consummation of
     such transaction, equity securities (other than options and other rights to
     acquire equity securities) possessing less than thirty percent (30%) of the
     voting power of the surviving or acquiring corporation.

          (c) Other than for Cause.  If the Executive's employment shall be
              --------------------                                         
     terminated by the Company other than (i) for Cause or (ii) upon death or
     disability, the Executive shall be paid the Executive's Annual Base Salary
     plus the average prorata bonus payable pursuant to Paragraph 3(b) through
     the Date of Termination.  In addition, the Company will pay to the
     Executive 2.99 times the Executive's Total Compensation for the immediately
     preceding twelve-month period.  The aforesaid amount shall be payable, at
     the option of the Executive, either (i) in full immediately upon such
     termination or (ii) semi-monthly over the remainder of the Employment
     Period.  In addition, the Executive shall be entitled, at the option of the
     Executive, (i) to exercise any options to purchase Shares granted to the
     Executive, whether or not then vested, in accordance with the terms of the
     applicable share option agreement or plan, or (ii) to retain any Shares
     awarded to the Executive whether or not vested on the Date of Termination.

          (d) For Good Reason.  If the Executive's employment shall be
              ---------------                                         
     terminated by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be paid
     the Executive's Annual Base Salary plus the average prorata bonus payable
     pursuant to Paragraph 3(b) through the Date of Termination.  In addition,
     the Company will pay to the Executive the lesser of (i) two times the
     Executive's Total Compensation for

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     the immediately preceding twelve-month period or (ii) the Executive's Total
     Compensation for the preceding twelve-month period multiplied by the number
     of years, including any fractions thereof, remaining until the Expiration
     Date.  The Executive shall be entitled, at the option of the Executive, (i)
     to exercise any options to purchase Shares granted to the Executive whether
     or not then vested, in accordance with the terms of the applicable share
     option agreement or Plan and (ii) to retain any Shares awarded to the
     Executive (whether or not then vested).

          (e) Other Benefits.  In addition to all other amounts payable to the
              --------------                                                  
     Executive under this Paragraph 8, the Executive shall be entitled to
     receive all retirement benefits payable to him under the Company's benefit
     plans applicable to him and any other plan or agreement relating to
     retirement benefits as in effect on the Date of Termination.

          (f) No Requirement to Mitigate.  The Executive shall not be required
              --------------------------                                      
     to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 8 by
     seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment
     or benefit provided for in this Paragraph 8 be reduced by any compensation
     earned by him as the result of employment by, or any services provided to,
     another employer (whether or not a successor to the Company) or by
     retirement benefits after the Date of Termination, or otherwise.

     9.   Confidential Information.  The Executive understands and acknowledges
          ------------------------                                             
that during his employment with the Company, he will be exposed to Confidential
Information (defined below), all of which is proprietary and which will
rightfully belong to the Company.  The Executive will hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company all such Confidential Information
obtained by the Executive during his employment with the Company and will not,
directly or indirectly, at any time, either during or after his employment with
the Company, without the Company's prior written consent, use, publish,
disseminate, or otherwise disclose any of such Confidential Information to any
individual or entity other than the Company or its employees, except as required
in the performance of his duties for the Company.  The Executive shall take all
reasonable steps to safeguard such Confidential Information and to protect such
Confidential Information against disclosure, misuse, loss or theft.  The term
"Confidential Information" shall mean any information not generally known in the
relevant trade or industry which was (i) obtained from the Company or its
predecessors or (ii) learned, discovered, developed, conceived, originated or
prepared during or as a result of the performance of any services by the
Executive on behalf of the Company or its predecessors.

     10.  Return of Documents.  All writings, records, and other documents and
          -------------------                                                 
things containing any Confidential Information shall be the exclusive property
of the Company, shall not be copied, summarized, extracted from, or removed from
the premises of the Company, except in pursuit of the business of the Company
and at the direction of the

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
Company, and shall be delivered to the Company, without retaining any copies,
upon the termination of the Executive's employment or at any time as requested
by the Company.

     11.  Noncompete.  The Executive agrees that:
          ----------                             

          (a) At all times during which the Executive is employed by the
     Company, the Executive agrees to conduct all multifamily residential
     development, construction, acquisition and management activities through
     the Company.  In addition, if Executive terminates his employment hereunder
     prior to the Expiration Date without Good Reason (other than termination by
     Executive of his employment within the twelve (12) month period following
     the occurrence of a "Change of Control") or the Company terminates
     Executive's employment hereunder for Cause, then beginning on the Date of
     Termination and for a one (1) year period thereafter (such one (1) year
     period, the "Noncompetition Period"), the Executive shall not, within
     twenty (20) miles of (i) any of the multifamily residential properties
     owned by the Company on the first day of the Noncompetition Period, (ii)
     any tract of land owned by the Company with respect to which the Company
     has undertaken substantial development activities and on which the Company
     intends, as of the first day of the Noncompetition Period, to develop a
     multifamily residential property or (iii) any property which, prior to the
     first day of the Noncompetition Period, the Company had entered into a
     definitive purchase agreement to acquire or had proposed to acquire for the
     purposes of development thereof (the areas described in (i), (ii) and (iii)
     above being collectively referred to herein as the "Restricted Area"),
     directly or indirectly, engage in, or own, invest in, manage or control any
     venture or enterprise engaged in, any multifamily residential real estate
     development, construction, acquisition or management activities.  Nothing
     herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more
     than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of any class of securities
     of a corporation or other entity  engaged in such business which is
     publicly traded, so long as he has no active participation in the business
     of such corporation or other entity.

          (b) If, at the time of enforcement of this Paragraph 11, a court shall
     hold that the duration, scope, area or other restrictions stated herein are
     unreasonable, the parties agree that reasonable maximum duration, scope,
     area or other restrictions may be substituted by such court for the stated
     duration, scope, area or other restrictions.

     12.  Remedies.  The parties hereto agree that both the Company and the
          --------                                                         
Executive would suffer irreparable harm from a breach by the other party of any
of the covenants or agreements contained herein.  Therefore, in the event of the
actual or threatened breach by either party of any of the provisions of this
Agreement, the other party may, in addition and supplementary to other rights
and remedies existing in its favor, apply to any court of law or equity of
competent jurisdiction for specific performance

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violation
of the provisions hereof.

     13.  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
          -------------                                                        
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REGARD TO
CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

     14.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
          ----------------                                                    
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and is intended to
supersede all prior employment negotiations, understandings and agreements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provisions of this Agreement are intended to
or shall be deemed to supersede (except as expressly set forth in Paragraph
8(b)), alter, impair or detract from in any manner any rights or benefits
awarded to Executive or to which Executive may otherwise be entitled pursuant to
any grant or award by the Company to the Executive of stock options, restricted
Common Shares or other rights with respect to securities of the Company, whether
now existing or hereafter granted.

     15.  Successors; Binding Agreement.
          ----------------------------- 

          (a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
     the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors,
     administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If
     the Executive should die while any amount would still be payable to him
     hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise
     provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
     Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other designee or, if
     there is no such designee, to the Executive's estate.

          (b) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
     indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
     substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly
     assume and agree in writing to perform this Agreement in the same manner
     and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if
     no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain and
     deliver to Executive such assumption and agreement prior to (but effective
     only upon) such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement, except that
     for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such
     succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.  As
     used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore
     defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which
     assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement, expressly, by operation of
     law, or otherwise.

     16.  Notices.  All notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in
          -------                                                         
writing, and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally
to the party to receive the same, when given by telex, telegram or mailgram, or
when mailed first class

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
addressed to the party to receive the same at his or its address above set
forth, or such other address as the party to receive the same shall have
specified by written notice given in the manner provided for in this Paragraph
16.  All notices shall be deemed to have been given as of the date of personal
delivery, transmittal or mailing thereof.

     17.  Survival.  The Company's obligations under Paragraph 8 shall survive
          --------                                                            
the termination of this Agreement.  The Executive's obligations under Paragraphs
9, 10 and 11 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

     18.  Severability.  If any provision in this Agreement is determined to be
          ------------                                                         
invalid, it shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any of the other
remaining provisions hereof.


                [BALANCE OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.


                                    COLUMBUS REALTY TRUST:



                                    By:  /s/   Will Cureton
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:     Will Cureton
                                            ------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Chief Operating Officer
                                             -----------------------------------



                                    EXECUTIVE:


                                      /s/   Thomas L. Wilkes
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Thomas L. Wilkes

                                      -11-