This person has another thread on this same bike, on this forum somewhere ... a lot of this has already been said.

Like [MENTION=560856]Lombard[/MENTION], I would not recommend skinny tires for true downtown-style urban environments ,,, the pavements and debris and various hazards, the need to sometimes hop curbs or slam through unavoidable potholes (because of overly courteous drivers only allowing bikes to have half-a bike-width;'s space on the road) and particularly in colder or wetter climates, frost-heaves, washouts, mini-sinkholes, sand bars .....

OP has not really said what he wants. I think in the other thread he says it is a short (4-mile?) commute and he wants to set up the bike as single-speed. Not sure why, but also not sure I would want to ride single-speed in heavy urban traffic .... but there are people who ride track bikes in NYC ....

The advice given so far is build the bike in a way which Works; i.e. having tires which rub the frame simply doesn't work---and with 28s o whatever fits, see how s/he likes the bike on the ride. Then, if it isn't what the OP wants, sell or trade the bike, and get a bike suited for the task.

OP mentions that s/he (I think it is a he so I will go with that) just bought a flat-bar commuter bike, but loves the old Ti bike and might want to turn it into a single-speed gravel bike ... for which the frame is patently unsuited.

Basically the OP need to bite the bullet and either accept the frame for what it is or get rid of it and get what he really wants. The frame just won't fit wide wheels and tires.