Are there any other features you are looking for other than not being messy?

Unless you have dry soil and only want dappled shade I'd look for another choice.

Honeylocust including the cultivar Sunburst are horribly over planted in the area. But otherwise no its not a messy tree.

Surprised your basswood drop alot of branches. The seed on the other hand can be annoying depending on the tree's location;

I like the small leaves. I would really like a Rotundiloba Sweetgum but I am not sure that it is hardy in this area.

I would like a tree that has red fall color because I am surrounded by yellow fall color. I also want one that allows me to plant hostas under it so no annoying shallow roots.

We have an oak tree and I guess I should consider myself lucky because it never gets acorns. Really looking for a tree that is fruitless, deep rooted and not messy. LOL Do they exist?

This is the first year the basswood has dropped branches. The seeds are annoying. It is a village tree so they drop all over the sidewalk. Not comfortable to walk on when barefoot! Lol.

It doesn't get as large as a Honeylocust but a Frontier Elm is close to what you want.

Small leaves, deep rooted, not messy and burgundy fall color. Nyssa sylvatica is another one but it struggles on alkaline soils.

Yellowwood is yet another choice but its yellow fall color.

Heck we can go as far as a Hybrid Paperpark maple. Has some surface roots as it ages but not too bad for a maple.

Thanks!!!! This really helps me!!