By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST END - The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati recently received a $1.5 million donation from businessman Carl Lindner.

The gift will go toward a new 48,000-square-foot building in the West End that will be named for him and his wife, Edyth. YMCA officials broke ground on the $10 million project March 31. The Lindners previously had donated $4.2 million toward its construction.

The new YMCA, at Linn and Derrick Turnbow streets, will be more than twice the size of the current building a block away on Ezzard Charles Drive.

The YMCA will be located in and around the former Washburn School - a property that was bought from Cincinnati Public Schools.

The YMCA and the Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, a charter school of about 450 students, will have joint ownership of the building. The YMCA would operate on the first floor and build a new facility beside the school to house indoor lap and play pools, an 8,000-square-foot gymnasium, fitness center, computer labs, auditorium and community meeting rooms.

Carl Lindner is the majority owner of the Cincinnati Reds.

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E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com