Demolition crews are busy taking down a Turtle Creek office block to make way for a new high-rise complex.

Prescott Realty Group has been working for more than two years to redevelop the former Republic Insurance offices at 2727 Turtle Creek Boulevard just north of Dallas' Uptown district.

The more than half-century-old insurance buildings have been vacant for years and are being cleared to make way for three new towers. Offices, condos, a hotel and high-rise apartments will sit on the more than 5-acre site.

"We will have the land cleared by the end of the first quarter, and we hope vertical construction starts right after that," said Prescott Realty president Vance Detwiler. "We anticipate the entire project will be started in 2020."

Called 2727 Turtle Creek, the project includes a 19-story, 284,000-square-foot office tower, a 20-story 250-unit apartment high-rise and a 24-story hotel and condo tower with 200 rooms and 45 residences. There will be about 25,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the lower floors of the buildings.

The project is one of the largest in the works in the Turtle Creek corridor, which stretches from Uptown to the Park Cities.

"There hasn't been a lot of brand-new office space in the Turtle Creek arena," Detwiler said. "We will be the first to deliver office space there."

Designed by Dallas architect HKS, the mixed-use project is in a pocket of Oak Lawn that hasn't seen much recent construction. It's next door to the Mansion on Turtle Creek Hotel and Residences.

Prescott Realty acquired the property in 2014 and initially planned to remodel the Republic Insurance complex. But the developer decided to demo the buildings, which date to the 1950s, and got the land rezoned for taller construction.

The 3-building project will include a 19-story office tower. (HKS)

"We did the abatement of the existing buildings and started the demo process in June," said Prescott Realty's senior managing director, Brian Leslie.

He said the office tower at the back of the project will be a boutique building aimed at smaller tenants.

"This is not targeting some big company like Uber," Leslie said. "Because of the location, it's more for tenants like family offices."

The office building will have a rooftop terrace, a fitness center, conference facilities and a cafe.

Commercial property firm JLL is leasing the building.

Detwiler said Prescott Realty has an agreement with a five-star hotel operator to put its flag on the hospitality portion of the project.

The entire project is planned with a landscaped exterior and access to the nearby Turtle Creek park and Katy Trail.

The developers say they're trying to keep some of the trees on the site.

"Whatever we could save that wasn't right up against the building we have," Detwiler said. "All of those that are taken out will be replaced."