The past couple years more and more of Jackson Ward has been getting better and better. I would stay on the very very edge of it, between Broad and Leigh, Kroger (Lombardy) and Belvidere. Clay to Leigh is still getting cleaned up, Clay to Broad is pretty decent now, almost all student apartments and businesses. Whatever you do, don't cross Leigh street. The boundary has moved of where not to cross, just a few years ago it was "Don't go North of Broad" now its moved to Leigh. Doubt it'll move farther than that though.