MADISON, Wis. -- A four-day exercise is under way in the troubled Allied Drive neighborhood, with the goal addressing the problems in the area.

The exercise, the first of its kind in the neighborhood, features marathon community sessions, which go for 11 to 13 hours a day.

The idea is to get neighborhood residents to speak out about what's wrong and what they think needs to happen.

A group of 30 volunteer architects will listen and then start drawing on their vision for the makeover of Allied Drive, focusing on a core of buildings purchased by the city for more than $4 million.

Earlier on Thursday, there was some concern because not many residents were showing up. Community activists said some are skeptical and others are intimidated, but they're trying to drum up support.

"If you want to see something in your community ... come out and tell 'em, because if you don't tell em, you won't get it," said Alice Howard, of Allied-Dunn's March Neighborhood Association.

"One of the things I love about Madison is that we never give up on any neighborhood, and we will not allow Allied Drive to be a ghetto," Enis Ragland, assistant to the mayor.

City officials said there have been failed attempts to revitalize Allied Drive before, but they called this effort the real deal with the purchased property as a show of commitment.

Architects will start designing on Friday and present the final vision on Sunday evening.

The sessions are being held in the gym at the new Allied Drive Boys And Girls Club, and everyone is invited, WISC-TV reported.