Following suit with Harborview at the Navy Yard, Avenir Boston, a large-scale 241-unit condo development in Boston’s West End is officially changing directions, and will now become a luxury rental development rather than for-sale condos.

A Dennis Duffy design, Avenir Boston was to play host to condos with price tags up to $1.5 million. When the Sales Center opened, they were only able to put one unit under agreement. If you call the Sales Center today, you receive a recording that states “reservations are not being taken”, and calls go unreturned.

Not to worry. Construction is moving on, and Trinity Financial, a Boston-based real estate development firm (also behind The Carruth in Dorchester), is anticipating a 2009 completion of Avenir, at which time, the building will be turned over to Archstone Smith for management.

We’ve received a lot of inquiries on Avenir, especially from those of you who work close to the construction site, in anticipation of purchasing a unit. Until 2009, and a rental at that, we suggest looking at Strada 234, which is quite close to Avenir and offers upscale living in a development that is about half the size of Avenir. 2 one-bedroom units are currently available at Strada 234 (priced at $455K and $549K). Contact us for further details.