ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Little Italy Association is proposing some big changes for the Lyell Avenue area.

It's an area that Rochester resident Dave Cangialossi grew up in.

“This area had a lot of nostalgic value to me,” Cangialossi said.

That’s why he just had to attend the Little Italy Association’s first “State of the Neighborhood,” where they talked plans to revitalize the area.

“I saw it at its height when it was an Italian American neighborhood. I’ve seen it in decline now, and the impression I get it now is a time to really reinvent it,” Cangialossi said.

The association unveiled renderings of the neighborhood, transformed into Little Italy.

“The vision is absolutely beautiful," resident Tommie Parker said. "Oh my God, I just got chills when I saw the new vision and hope for Lyell Avenue.”

The association had numerous guest speakers including city councilor Molly Clifford, and discussed everything from a $1 million state grant they applied for, to how they hope to bring business back to the area.

“We’re focusing on Red Light District and social welfare type programs, when our focus should be on economic development, and attracting new investment to the area," Association President Silvano Orsi said. "We have to fix the public realm -- the sidewalks, the public lighting. Ensure there’s proper lighting in the district to increase safety for the area.”

They want to tackle the stigma behind the troubled corridor.

“And accomplishing some goals that we set within the community to handle some things as far as crime, poverty, prostitution," Little Italy Historical District Board member Frank D'Ambarosa said. "All the things that are negatively affecting those people in the community.”

And instead they want to turn the area into a cultural and historical district for everyone.

“This is not about building an Italian neighborhood," Orsi said. "This is about building an inclusive, multicultural district and commemorating 150 years as an Italian or a Little Italy historic district.”

And residents are looking forward to what’s to come.

“It makes me very excited, very happy, very excited, to know there are people that are willing to work together and make a difference," Parker said. "Come together and let’s revive Lyell Avenue, let’s get it going again.”

And Cangialossi agrees.

“Not only do we have the right ideas, but also, at least to some limited extent now we have the right support," Cangialossi said. "And if we can just continue the progress in a positive direction, I think everything is going to work out the way we want it to.”