In earlier times, the Lilava quarter was connected to other neighborhoods through passages and large alleys. The first modern street, Shariati Street (formerly Shahnaz), was constructed in 1950. Subsequently, new streets such as Western 17 Shahrivar (Old), Eastern 17 Shahrivar (now Shahid Qazi Street), Saeb Street (formerly the prison), and Pastor Street were established. The center of the Lilava quarter in the past was located in front of the
Mashhadi Iman Mosque (also known as Rangli Mosque) and the square in front of the Haj Mirza Agha Farshi Mosque (formerly Shah Reza, today Imam Reza Square). In earlier times, the Lilava quarter contained numerous qanāts (underground water channels) that originated from the Yaniq Mountains and supplied irrigation to all the gardens and houses.
Nader Mirza provides the following account: ... The water supply of this quarter came from the Valman qanāt, the Haj Mohammad-Baqer qanāt, and the Agha Pahlavan Heybat spring. The Armenians of the city predominantly resided in this quarter. Several Christian families lived here, and a church was also constructed. It is certain that the headman of the Christians was Haji Amir Khan Kandozan, while the Muslims were under Habibollah Khan. This quarter and Charandab both lay to the south... According to
Nader Mirza, the quarter and the southern parts of the city were crossed by several qanāts: ... The Haj Mohsen qanāt, the Tumas qanāt, the Pahlavan qanāt, the Great Soltan qanāt, the Small Soltan qanāt, Heybat, Zafarānlu, the qanāt of Hakim Sahib, the English physician, the Haj Mohammad-Baqer qanāt, the Kurjan qanāt, and the Haj Seyyed Hossein qanāt... == Etymology ==