Boulevard scope is rather weird (7)

I believe the answer is:

strange

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'rather weird' is the definition.
'strange' can be an answer for 'weird' (synonyms). I am not sure about the 'rather' bit.

'boulevard scope' is the wordplay.
'boulevard' becomes 'st' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'scope' becomes 'range' (synonyms).
'st'+'range'='STRANGE'

'is' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for strange that I've seen before include "Odd or unfamiliar" , "Offbeat" , "Odd or unknown" , "Extraordinary" , "Odd - rum" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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