I never set foot in West Powelton until I started looking into buying but, from what I hear, it's changed significantly over the past few years. On my block, several houses that used to be problem tenants renting from a slumlord all got sold (I bought one of them) and it's now almost all owner-occupants. Some of the people who bought one of the other houses said a cop (or FBI or something) came looking for one of the former occupants shortly after they'd bought and told them if he ever came back to consider him "armed and dangerous." I've also gotten a lot of mail from the PPA (opened one before realizing it wasn't for me and whoever it was for owes something like $2000 for driving without a license, among other things). That isn't to say all the problem tenants are gone (some of my neighbors have complained about kids who live on a house on the 4000 block of Powelton which, based on looking up the address on BRT, appears to be public housing run by the state -- I wrote to the gov and my state reps about it). I've also heard from my neighbors that there used to be a drug corner or two a block or two from where I live, but it got shut down (by people in the neighborhood) a while back.
I've been approached by panhandlers a couple times since I've been here, mostly near 40th st, but also once on my block. None have been really aggressive, though, and I've encountered panhandlers in much nicer neighborhoods, also.
Like I said, 40th St is kind of shady for some reason. I actually avoid 40th St north of Market at night, but generally feel comfortable a block away from it.
Anyway, rents should definitely be lower here. You won't be doing anyone a favor (other than the landlord) by allowing yourself to get ripped off with the rent. I also wouldn't rent without looking at the place first, since some rentals might not be in good condition (you didn't mention whether you have seen the apartment or the area, so I figure I'll put that out there).
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